The annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade started with a slight chill in the air on December 11th, but the sun poked out long enough for participants and parade go-ers to have a festive, fun time.
Onlookers lined the parade route along Highway 12 from Teach’s Lair Marina to the Hatterasman Drive-In. Thirty-nine units were part of the 2009 parade, led by Dare County Sheriff Rodney Midgett.
As usual, there were vintage automobiles and motorcycles, horses and a horse and carriage, trucks from all of the village’s volunteer fire departments, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad vehicles, bucket trucks from the Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, and a U.S. Coast Guard boat.
There were also floats from Friends of Felines, the N.C. Department of Transportation Ferry Division, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, Creative Ballance Salon, the Hatteras Marlin Club, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, the Hatteras Post Office, and more. Folks on the floats threw out candy for to spectators and wished everyone along their way a Merry Christmas.
As always, the parade ended with Santa Claus on the Hatteras Village Volunteer Fire Department Ladder Truck.
The community gathered at the Hatteras Civic Center after the parade for cookies and hot chocolate, and a dance followed for the grownups in the evening.