Photo Provided The Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department partners with Unified Bank to bring the annual Christmas parade to the Purple City. Gathered from left are VFD Capt. Todd Roberts, Unified Customer Service Supervisor Melissa Clegg, VFD Chief I Ron Hilton, Unified Senior Commercial Banking Executive Michael Goclan, Unified Retail Banking Executive and Area Sales Manager Stacy Carpino, Unified Customer Service Representative II Elizabeth Thompson and MFVFD Capt. Joe Jozwiak.

MARTINS FERRY — Every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, kids from 1 to 92 take to the city sidewalks for the time-honored tradition of the Martins Ferry Christmas Parade.

Friends and families gather on porches, blankets and lawn chairs along the parade route to watch the festive floats, marching bands and dancers go by, showing off their holiday spirit. Kids with smiling faces can barely contain their excitement when they see the fire trucks, knowing Santa will be at the end of the parade.

This year’s MFVFD Christmas Parade is sponsored in part by Unified Bank. Unified began in Martins Ferry in 1902 and has provided professional community banking services to the people of Martins Ferry ever since.

Unified Retail Banking Executive Stacy Carpino was honored to be the parade’s grand marshal last year.

“My Martins Ferry team looks forward to this special evening throughout the year,” Carpino said. “They will all be out on our Unified Express float wearing their Unified blue Santa hats, waving to our friends, and passing out candy and other treats to the children along the way.”

According to MFVFD Chief I Ron Hilton, the parade will step off at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29. Lineup

will begin at 4:30 p.m. near Jacobs & Sons Quality Meats on Center Street. The parade route will go from Center Street to Zane Highway and head south to Hanover Street. From Hanover, the route goes to Fourth Street, then to Jefferson Street, and from Jefferson to Zane Highway again, ending at the City Park.

“Once we get to the park, we will celebrate with a Christmas tree lighting and then top off the evening with fireworks,” Hilton said.

The MFVFD has been hosting the annual Christmas parade for over 35 years. Hilton said that serving the community is in the blood of his firefighters.

In addition to the annual Christmas parade, the MFVFD organizes and hosts the Betty Zane Days Festival each summer.

“These events are part of our lives,” Hilton said. “Many of our residents have never known a time without them, and they also know we are here to protect and serve them in times of disaster or need. The Christmas parade is a way for us to share smiles, have fun, and build positive, lifelong memories with those we serve.”