The mini grand marshals for next Saturday’s Christmas parade have been announced. Area children competed in an art contest to vie for the spot of Junior Grand Marshal.
Main Street Director Barbara Bigelow announced Thursday that out of 600 entries in the second annual art contest, nine students in kindergarten through fifth grade sealed the win with their superhero Christmas-themed artwork. First place winners won $75, second place winners won $50 and third place winners won $25.
First place winner Madison Jackson, 5, said she drew Wonder Woman and an elf because the female superhero is her favorite. As a junior grand marshal, Jackson said she will “wave to the crowd and say hello.”
Bigelow said Main Street incorporates the art contest into the parade because “it’s all about the children. This is all for them.”
The parade begins at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13 and has more than 60 entries, Bigelow said. Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray is the grand marshal and Santa Claus will make an appearance as well.
The winners of the contest:
■ 1st Place — Braxton Dietz, 5th grade Caledonia Elementary,
■ 2nd Place — Alicia Ashmore, 5th Grade, New Hope Elementary
■ 3rd Place — Brant Smith, 5th Grade New Hope Elementary
2nd and 3rd Grade:
■ 1st Place — Harlee Hammack, 3rd Grade Caledonia Elementary
■ 2nd Place — Lily Pennington, 3rd Grade Caledonia Elementary,
■ 3rd Place — Sam Brown, 2nd grade, New Hope Elementary
Kindergarten and 1st Grade:
■ 1st Place — Madison Jackson, Kindergarten, West Lowndes Elementary
■ 2nd Place — Abigail Essick, 1st Grade Caledonia Elementary
■ 3rd Place — JR Dowdle, 1st Grade Annunciation
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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