Paradegoers enjoy mild weather at Wallace Christmas Parade

With a police escort leading the Wallace-Rose Hill High School Junior ROTC cadets bearing the colors, followed by this year’s grand marshal Wendell Murphy, the 2025 Wallace Christmas Parade kicked off right on time at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Sunny, cool weather prevailed at parade time, but by the time the procession wrapped up about an hour later, temperatures had risen into the low 60s. That kept some paradegoers around town visiting local businesses and filling area eateries after the event.

Children covered their ears along Main Street near the railroad tracks as a long contingent of fire trucks from across the area passed by with sirens blaring. The noise was softened as many departments tossed candy to children lining the route.

In addition to numerous floats, beauty queens, and mascots from Paw Patrol and Piggly Wiggly, the Shriners were well represented with their Tomcats cars, Sudan Truckers, Drum and Bugle Corps from Wilmington, Sudan Van Patrol and Thunderbolts. Shriners use parades as a key way to promote the work of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

As is tradition, the final parade entry was Santa Claus, pulled by a few members of his reindeer contingent.