SWANSEA, S.C. — Friends and family members got festive in Swansea on Sunday afternoon as the town hosted its annual Christmas parade.
Many non-profit organizations, churches, local leaders and other groups rode through town on floats, golf carts and cars.
Event organizer Casandra Riley said she's been helping with the event since around 2019.
"Some years ago, I organized the Mount Pleasant Christmas parade, and then when Jerald Sanders came on as mayor, he asked me to take care, start doing it for Swansea," Riley said. "And I just love seeing family and friends and everybody get together, and I just love organizing it. I also have a non-profit called Peace Unity Love Life (PULL) Community Outreach, and they help with the parade."
Riley said that this year, horses, corvettes, side-by-sides, Slingshots, and motorcycles participated in the parade.
She said her non-profit hosts various activities in town, such as free community giving feeds, back-to-school bashes and fish fry fundraisers, to promote unity and get people to get along.
People like Brenda Glover said they didn't have to travel far to watch the parade.
"It's right outside my door. I ain't got to go nowhere," Glover said. "My church be out here. Sometimes they have a float, sometimes they have a golf cart."
Glover said she loves seeing the crowds and different organizations come together as one at the annual parade, which marks the start of the holiday season.
Riley said they had nearly 80 applicants involved in the parade this year.