Through 45 years of floats, marching units, pageant beauties and high school bands, the Tomball Holiday Parade is as large and extravagant as ever.

This year, 145 entries made the slow trek down Main Street to the delight of an estimated crowd of more than 40,000.

“We were told by many that this was the biggest parade they have seen in a city the size of Tomball,” Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President and Parade Committee chair person Brandy Beyer said. “Some people even parked their vehicles overnight to reserve a viewing spot.”

What they saw was a two-hour event that showcased the best Tomball and its surrounding communities had to offer. Dozens of local businesses, churches and civic organizations decorated their respective floats to reflect this year’s theme of “Peace, Love and Holidays.”

Pictured, SPJST District 5 Youth was named Best All Around Float at the 45th Annual Tomball Holiday Parade. See more parade photos in the Tribune’s online photo galleries section.

Submitted Photo

Many of the themed floats were decked out in psychedelic colors reminiscent of the 1960s. The Chamber, which each year puts on the parade, recognized local Vietnam era veterans as Grand Marshals.

This year’s parade featured several familiar entries, such as marching units from Tomball, Langham Creek, Magnolia West and Waltrip High Schools, antique cars, city fire trucks, military vehicles and civic organizations.

Also among the entries were the 33 contestants for that evening’s Miss Tomball Pageant, including new Miss Tomball, Jade Gilbo. Each of the contestants rode atop a vehicle adorned in their evening dress for that night’s pageant and greeted onlookers.

The judges for this year’s parade named SPJST District 5 Youth entry as the Best All-Around Float.

Other winners were:

·         Best Church Float – Anointed Faith Family Church

·         Best Civic Float – Cloggers on the Move

·         Best Commercial Float – HEB

·         Best Drill Team – Green Starlettes

·         Best Marching Unit – Tomball HS ROTC

·         Best Mounted Unit – Harris County Junior Mounted Posse

·         Best of Show, High School Band – Langham Creek HS

·         Best Youth Float – Lone Star College-Tomball

·         Best Miss Tomball Contestant Entry – Hunter Rhone

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