Girl Scouts, city officials, fire and rescue trucks and Laurel High's marching band and JROTC marching unit escorted Santa to Old Town Laurel Saturday in Laurel Parks and Recreation's annual Holiday Parade.
A steady shower of rain kept Santa inside a Department of Public Works truck during the parade, but he and Mrs. Claus joined the post-parade party inside the Laurel Armory, along with costumed characters Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman; and live music by the duo The Only Two, performed by Charles Lowery and Allan Young.
The city holds the annual parade and party the first weekend in December, providing a chance to take some photos with Santa and to officially kick off the holiday season.
"We've been doing this for quite sometime," said Laurel Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Joanne Hall-Barr. "Every year we try to add some new features."
As the parade ended at Fifth and Montgomery streets, Mayor Craig Moe and several helpful kids pulled a ceremonial switch to illuminate the large pine tree and holiday lights outside the Armory, and simultaneously the lights on the city's Christmas tree at C and Main streets.