Toledo’s annual Blade Holiday Parade returns after year off
Northwest Ohioans came in droves for the annual parade!
TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo’s Blade Holiday Parade returned this year after a year off, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many who attended say they’re glad to be able to enjoy live, in-person community events once again.
“Everyone in the community is out and they’re supporting, and I’m very happy about that; it makes it feel kind of normal now,” said Keyanna Harper, a parent.
She says that memories made at this parade are forever and that it’s now a tradition in her family.
“For most people, it’s a thing that they do with their family every year. And even with me from being a kid, we came down and did the same thing. So we shared those memories with my kids,” said Harper.
From clowns, to marching bands, to floats, today’s parade had something for everyone, which is why many brought their kids out for a morning of fun, including Michael Keedy of Toledo.
“Everytime we tell them we’ve got something exciting to do, they jump at the opportunity. And they’re here today, collecting candy, waving and yelling at everybody — they’re having a blast,” said Keedy.
Keedy adds that the pandemic didn’t give kids much to look forward to, which is why he and his kids were itching to get out to this morning’s parade.
“We’re a family that likes to participate in all the events that the city has to offer, and it’s been great to get back out and experience it,” he said.
And of course, it wouldn’t have been a holiday parade without Santa.
