The Town of Bel Air Christmas Parade is a tradition that my loved ones and I enjoy every year. On Sunday, December 3, Main Street Bel Air was decked out in Christmas spirit for the annual event.

Bands, floats, teams, scout troops, animals, the Clauses, and many more holiday features were all lined up by Das Bierhalle ready to go. The parade’s end location was Shamrock Park where they had food, music, and a bonfire to celebrate the annual tree lighting.

Most groups either walked or had truck pulling them in wagons or carts. JC’s band and color guard marched as one of the entries in the parade along with other Harford County bands.

Seeing how much joy this small-town tradition brings to our community is truly something special. People of any age can find a part of the parade to enjoy.

Some pros of the parade were that it brings the community together, is a chance to advertise small businesses, and bring lots of money to food vendors around the area.

One con was that it pulled customers away from small businesses along the street during the parade itself and it caused traffic issues on Route 1.

I liked getting to see my classmates walking with the band or with their teams. I also liked to see how happy the little kids who get to participate are throughout the afternoon.

The parade’s conclusion started the fun at Shamrock Park. The food was typical food trucks and vendor stands. The bonfire brought lots of people around who ate and enjoyed the holiday music until the tree lighting.

I highly recommend going next year if you are looking for a fun afternoon activity. While it was a bit cold, it was definitely worth seeing all the people spreading the Christmas spirit. Not everyone goes to the full event, but any bit is enjoyable.

This is a great way to spend the holidays with family and friends without being stressed with planning around with time or spending a lot of money.