Many enjoy Rockford Christmas events
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The Coosa County Sheriff’s Office won first place with its float in the Rockford Rockin’ Coosa Christmas parade. Photo submitted
Show Stoppin’ Championship Wrestling won second place in Rockford’s Christmas parade with its float. Photo submitted
The Coosa County Commission participates in the Rockford Christmas parade with a float. Photo submitted
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Numerous individuals congregated in downtown Rockford last Saturday for the town’s Rockin’ Christmas Coosa event and parade.
The full-day event included vendors lining the streets with a variety of items, including various gift and décor items, food, information from various agencies, and more.
Children’s activities included a spacewalk bounce house, face painting done by Megan Jones, free train rides provided by Archie’s Shaved Ice, letters to Santa, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Coinciding with the event, the Rockford Public Library held an open house which was deemed a huge success. Library Board members handed out bags filled with goodies and activities for the youth, including making Christmas ornaments and holding a coloring contest.
Vendors who helped make the day’s event such a success included Little Bit-a-Style, Victorial Bean, Penny Dean Crafts, Three Moon Harvest, Customized Creations, Chaos & Crafts, Ashley O’Field, Tonya’s Expression of Creations, Veronica Holtzclaw with Avon, Kaye Morris, Our Ancestors Trading Post, Terry and Sharron Ward, Sum’in Dif’rent, Memphis to Bama BBQ, Urban Pops, Ernie’s Hotdogs, Vanilla Heaven, Archie’s Shaved Ice, Sweet Barn, C & C Kreations, and Angela Guy with Plunder.
Agencies who participated in the Christmas event to hand out brochures and information were AltaPointe Health, Accordia Health, All Kids, Alabama Department of Public Health, and Heritage South Credit Union.
The LifeSouth Blood Center also had a blood mobile on site to conduct a blood drive during the event.
Relating to the town’s Christmas festivities, Rockford also held a decorating contest in which residents and businesses alike within the town limits had the opportunity to decorate their homes, yards and business fronts for the opportunity to win cash prizes.
First place winners for the decorating contest were Doris and Ken Raison. Gina Driskell and Adam Bunker tied for second place, and First Bank won third place. Those who won were given some shopping cash for the holiday season, with first place receiving $150 cash, second place $100 and third place $75.
Following the daytime Christmas festivities and shopping with vendors, town residents and guests were then able to enjoy Rockford’s annual Christmas parade Saturday evening.
As is done each year, judging took place during the parade, with winners being determined for vehicle entries and float entries.
Those who won in the vehicle category were Sherry Shaw winning first place with the 1964 Chevelle Malibu, James Simmons winning second place with a 1962 Impala SS convertible and Phillip Gaddis winning third place with a 1997 Mustang Cobra convertible.
In the float category, the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office won first place, Show Stoppin’ Championship Wrestling won second place, and BridgeWays won third place.
Parade participants also included the Central Coosa Honor Guard, the Central Coosa band, the Rockford Senior Center with a float, Rockford Volunteer Fire Department with two engines, the Alabama Forestry Commission with a dozier unit and Smokey the Bear, Mark Denney and Hunter Denney with motorcycles, Hanover Volunteer Fire Department with a float, James Simmons with a 1931 Ford sedan, Kelly Stroud and James Stroud with trucks, District 1 Commissioner John Forbus with a truck and trailer for the Coosa County Commission, Ray Volunteer Fire Department with an engine, Rodney Davis with Show Stoppers Motorsports with a race car, Ashley Stevens with a golf cart, Roger Gambrell with a yellow 1933 Plymouth, Scott White with Infinity Coffee Shop with a Polaris Ranger, Londrel Lee with a motorcycle, Weogufka Volunteer Fire Department with an engine, Infinity Real Estate with a Suburban, Alabama Forestry Commission with a truck, Equality Volunteer Fire Department with an engine and rescue truck, Larry Powell with a blue 1967 Mustang, various riders on horses, and the Town of Rockford float carrying Santa himself.
The Town of Rockford thanks all of the vendors, parade participants, residents, and others who had a part in making the events such great successes and looks forward to next year’s Christmas event.