In the crowd for Bakersville’s annual Christmas Parade last Saturday were two veterans of the town’s holiday celebrations: sisters Laura Slagh and Amy Ferguson, who live in different areas near Greenville, South Carolina.
Descendants of the town’s founder, the Revolutionary War soldier David Baker (who established a mill near the present-day town), Slagh and Ferguson have, throughout their lives, returned to Bakersville to celebrate Christmas; first with their parents, though now they make the journey together.
“We never lived here,” Slagh explained. “But our family was from here and so we would return for the holidays.”
“And, as you can imagine, we’ve seen a number of these parades,” Ferguson added.
“Oh, we love them,” Slagh said. “They’re part of our Christmas tradition.”
The length of the parade’s route — a loop that included North Mitchell Avenue, N.C. Highway
226 along Cane Creek, to Maple Street — created different pockets of parade-goers, rather than a contiguous crowd, with the largest party at the corner of Mitchell and 226, where Slagh and Ferguson were standing.
The parade began with a convoy of firetrucks, which then gave way to a group of dune buggies, festively lit, and with the drivers dispensing candy to the children who lined the road. The hardworking marching band from Mitchell High School made their second parade appearance for the day after performing in Buladean’s celebrations earlier that afternoon.
As they did at Spruce Pine’s parade the week before, the employees of Mitchell County Animal Rescue had both a float and volunteers marching next to it in various animal costumes.
The organization’s new executive director, Katie Elkins, made her first public appearance in her new role by appearing as a rider on an inflatable horse.
Before Santa wrapped up the parade with his appearance, another group of vehicles, this time a line of SUVs, streamed