Grand evening for Christmas parade in Ripley

It was ideal weather for a parade Sunday night, as about a dozen floats rode through downtown Ripley to the Complex where the children greeted Santa Claus, during the 15th annual Christmas celebration.

Unlike previous years, with windy, snowy, cold conditions, this year was clear and chilly with no snow at all.

And unlike previous years, when the event was dubbed Christmas in the Park, Santa visited with the children in the warmth of the meeting room at the Complex, rather than outside at Lewis Park. This change was greatly appreciated by the parents who no longer had to wait in the cold with their children in order to see Santa.

The celebration, sponsored by the Ripley Business Community, Ripley Lions Club, and Bruce Power, also featured a free skate at the Ripley Arena.