George and Martha Washington, Mayor Archie Jennings and Santa Claus were among the dignitaries greeting spectators during the Washington Christmas parade Saturday morning.
George and Martha, portrayed by David Carraway and Beth Byrd, joined Jennings near the head of the holiday procession, which traveled along the streets of downtown Washington.
The event was co-hosted by the Washington Kiwanis Club and the City of Washington, according to parade chairman Bobby Roberson.
Adding to the festivities was an impromptu concert by Beaufort County 4-H club members, who sang a selection of Christmas carols as participants waited patiently for the parade to begin.
Approximately 75 units were featured in the lineup, which stretched along Stewart Parkway to the North Carolina Estuarium. Local Scouts, youth groups, marching bands and beauty queens waved to the crowds during the procession, which also included civic organizations, churches, schools and businesses.
For-profit entities paid a small fee to participate in the festivities, but even then all monies raised go to a good cause, Roberson noted. Those funds were added to the scholarship fund maintained by the Kiwanis Club, which presents college scholarships to local teens. Three such scholarships are awarded each June, one each to a graduating senior at Washington High School, Northside High School and Southside High School.
Christmas-parade season in Beaufort County continues today in Bath at 2 p.m. Other holiday parades on the schedule include the following events: Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. in Belhaven, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. in Aurora and Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. in Edward.

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