Despite gray clouds and a light rain that persisted throughout the morning, the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce is calling its annual Holiday Parade a success.

Chamber Vice President of Operations Brandy Beyer said that of the 160 registered entrants in the parade, only five were unable to participate due to the weather.

That left 155 entrants, many of which decorated their floats in this year’s Holidays Around the World theme, making the two-mile trip west down Main Street to entertain the thousands that braved the damp weather to kick off the holiday season in Tomball.

After former NASA astronaut Steve Nagel kicked things off as Grand Marshal of the parade, some of the early passers-by were U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, State Rep. Allen Fletcher, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and members of the Tomball City Council.

In previous years, the contestants in the evening’s Miss Tomball Pageant were spread out through the parade order. However, this year, Beyer said, the 45 contestants, many of whom sat on the back of convertible sports cars waving to the crowd in evening dresses, were moved up near the front of the line so that they could finish before any potentially heavy rains came.

Tomball, Magnolia and Magnolia West High Schools, along with several other Houston area high schools, each had either bands, drill teams, marching units or cheerleaders entertaining the crowd.

The two-hour parade wrapped up with the traditional appearance by Santa Claus, which Beyer said was one of the biggest attractions for the kids at the parade.

The Chamber also awarded prizes to several floats that came away as best in their respective categories.

This year’s winners were:

·         Best All Around Float – The Studio of Tomball

·         Best Church Float – Tomball United Methodist Church

·         Best Civic Float – Abandoned Animal Rescue

·         Best Commercial Float – Tomball Pet Resort

·         Best Drill Team – Green Starlettes

·         Best Marching Unit – Tomball High School Cougar Charms

·         Best Mounted Unit – Wild Bunch Riding Group

·         Best of Show for High School Band – Waltrip High School Band

·         Best Youth Float – Step by Step Christian School

·         Best Miss Tomball Entry – Megan Sells

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