Retiring Congressman Frank LoBiondo and his wife Tina were grand marshals of the Ventnor City Holiday Twilight Parade on Ventnor Avenue Saturday, Dec. 1.
VENTNOR – At 3 p.m. Ventnor Holiday Parade organizer Shelley D’Orazio refused to let the falling raindrops spoil months of planning to light up the holiday season.
“It’s going to stop raining. We’re a go,” she said.
By 5 p.m., there was not a drop of rain falling on Ventnor and the parade passed by hundreds of spectators lining Ventnor Avenue.
Retiring Congressman Frank LoBiondo and his wife Tina were grand marshals for the Ventnor Twilight Holiday Parade held Saturday, Dec. 1 to open the holiday season.
Although a few vendors lined up for the block party held at the end of the parade route did not show up, there was plenty of fun to be had on Troy Avenue and as many as 60 units in the parade. Harriet Shore and Ivy Shore Rosenberg of the iconic Arrow Hardware Store, which closed earlier this year to make way for a Santucci’s Square Pizza restaurant, were guests of honor riding in a long Cadillac convertible.
The Oakcrest High School Marching Ambassadors and the Mainland Regional High School Band marched while playing Christmas songs. Along with several municipal vehicles and fire trucks, spectators enjoyed ponies, a unicorn and costumed characters. North Beach Ventnor repeated its annual gift of free hugs along the parade route.
The man of the hour, Santa Claus arrived with one of his elves aboard a Ventnor City Beach Patrol surf boat to the joy of children along the way.
