ARYSVILLE – Downtown Marysville became a winter wonderland of holiday fun, music and a dazzling light parade during Saturday’s 29th annual Merrysville for the Holidays winter celebration.

The highlight of the evening was the Electric Lights Parade, a flotilla of vehicles and floats decked out in glistening holiday lights that filed down State Avenue to Comeford Park, followed by the official water tower lighting that signaled the start of the holiday season.

This year’s parade had an added familial touch as Merrysville for the Holidays founder and city parks director Jim Ballew served as grand marshal, whose annual parade emcee duties were handed off to his oldest son, Ben, a surprise to his dad. If you didn’t catch this year’s parade, The Marysville Globe has it on video for you to enjoy.

Despite a generally wet and rainy evening, parade-goers lined State awaiting the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus atop a shiny red Marysville Fire District hook and ladder truck, for pictures with the jolly old man and the missus in the community center.

Comeford Park was aglow with activities throughout the night, with band Soulevard’s holiday tunes making spirits bright, decorative lighting on buildings and trees, photo display booths stationed around the park to create lasting family memories, hot food and beverages provided by Marysville Kiwanis Club, a bonfire tended by the Lions Club and other features.