By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
BELHAVEN — With a wintry nip in the air, the town of Belhaven and its residents celebrated the Christmas season Saturday with an afternoon and evening of events.
A highlight of the festivities, dubbed the Festival of Lights, was the parade along Main Street.
Churches, school groups, local businesses, fire and rescue units and hometown celebrities were among those featured during the parade. Among the latter were Belhaven’s Citizen of the Year and parade grand marshal Marcy Morgan, Mayor Adam O’Neal, reigning Miss Independence Kimberly Clayton and Santa Claus.
Winning entries included Boy Scout Troop 80 from First Christian Church in Belhaven for best float and Delbert Armstrong Trucking of Pantego, with driver Michael Keech, for best-decorated “big rig.”
In the home and business decorating contest, the following awards were presented: Homes — Julius and Thelma Cooper, first; Nelson and Edith Guy, second; Betty Waters, third; and Mr. and Mrs. George Ebron, honorable mention; Businesses — Paul Funeral Home, first; Boyette Medical Center, second; Pittard, Perry &Crone, third; Farm Boys Restaurant, honorable mention.
The festivities were sponsored by the Belhaven Community Chamber of Commerce. Other events held Saturday included a gingerbread-house workshop, chamber open house, people having their photographs taken with Santa Claus and lighting of the town’s official Christmas tree.
The theme of this year’s Festival of Lights was “Lights of Peace and Hope.”
Aurora held its Christmas parade Sunday afternoon. Coverage of that event will be featured in Wednesday’s Washington Daily News.