West Bend, WI – Temperatures were in the teens but neighbors bundled up and enjoyed the annual West Bend Christmas Parade. This year BOSS Realty hosted the live broadcast from atop the balcony on N. Main Street. Which entry was your favorite?
Thanks to Mary Sue for co-anchoring the broadcast and bringing us down a memorable path with West Bend history.
Winning entries from the 2024 West Bend Christmas Parade are below.
Youth Non-profit
1st – Holy Angels SchoolÂ
2nd – West Bend Dance & Color GuardÂ
3rd – Washington County 4-H Llama Project
Adult Non-profit
1st – West Bend Kettle TrailblazersÂ
2nd – West Bend Children’s TheatreÂ
3rd – Bible Baptist Church
Business
1st – Jackson ConcreteÂ
2nd – Flash’s Christmas CarÂ
3rd – Forte Bank
There were a couple of unique moments during the parade including the 4H llama that took a rest break, sitting down on the street in front of Sal’s Pizza.
There was also the wayward reindeer inflatable that was listing a bit to the right.
Real reindeer also were a hit.
During the broadcast we’re looking for memories about what the inside of the stores looked like and names of owners or employees. One reader recalled a Wiedmeyer who was an usher at the West Bend Theatre, and he had a flashlight and would go around ‘shushing’ teens.
Do you recall the Living Nativity at St. John’s Lutheran or Jecklin’s Shoe Store, 264 N. Main Street, with Bernie and Mona.
One local recalled, “I wanted penny loafers but didn’t want them to be new, so I put them in the high school parking lot and let the kids drive over them until they were appropriately distressed.”
Chime in today with your memories of shopping in West Bend, Wi, and we will read them during the live broadcast. This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World.”
Thanks to Sal’s Pizza for sponsoring this year’s Christmas Parade broadcast.
“Thanks so very much for broadcasting the Christmas Parade. It has been a part of my life since 67 years ago when I marched in the West Bend Christmas parade as a member of the Grafton High School marching band.”
The 72nd annual Christmas Parade on
Sunday, December 1, 2024.
