The Tioga Central High School football team, who earned the Class D state title last month, rode in a wagon at the Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19, while others rode in grand style aboard the Tioga Tigers lighted float, accompanied by the high school band. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
The Santa’s Workshop float participates in the Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19.
Pictured is one of the many fire trucks that participated in the Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19.
Several creative floats participated in the Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19, including this float accompanied by an antique car.
Escorted in a horse-drawn wagon during the Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19, Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with three elves, greeted children and guests after the parade.
Pictured is one of several fire trucks that participated in the second annual Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19.
Pictured is one of several fire trucks that participated in the second annual Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade on Dec. 19. This truck transported guests surrounded by a lighted tree.
Pictured is a portion of the trackside light display, which is part of Tioga Downs Casino’s Winterfest, and continues through December. The light display is the creation of W&W Nursery and Landscaping located on Marshland Road in Apalachin, N.Y. For more information about Winterfest, visit Tioga Downs Casino on Facebook or Twitter, or visit tiogadowns.com.
Pictured is a portion of the trackside light display, which is part of Tioga Downs Casino’s Winterfest, and continues through Jan 3. The light display is the creation of W&W Nursery and Landscaping located on Marshland Road in Apalachin, N.Y. For more information about Winterfest, visit Tioga Downs Casino on Facebook or Twitter, or visit tiogadowns.com.
With a nip in the air and fluffy white snowflakes floating from the sky, it felt a little more like Christmas at the second annual Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade held on Dec. 19 at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y.
Guests near trackside hovered around open fire pits to keep warm while others sipped on hot drinks just prior to the highly anticipated parade.
Hundreds of guests filled the rows of outdoor seats and others stood trackside to watch several fire trucks, floats, and the Tioga Central High School football team, accompanied by the high school band, take turns around the track.
The only event of its kind on the East Coast, the Tioga Downs lighted holiday parade didn’t disappoint. The event was co-emceed by WBNG meteorologist Howard Manges and WETM’s Samantha LaRocca, along with radio personality Tanya Wild who offered commentary trackside as floats arrived closer to the grandstands for the audience to view.
Jeff Gural, CEO of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, stood on the snowy track and spoke to guests prior to the start of the parade.
“I’m thrilled for this event,” Gural said, and announced, “Start the parade!”
Gural also spoke to media prior to the start of the parade about the event, and shared, “It was an idea to bring joy to the community and give families something to look forward to in the winter.”
At the conclusion of the lighted holiday parade, the Tioga Central Football float took third place, Farm Fanatics took second place, and Dale Turner with his float, “Santa’s Workshop”, took home the $1,000 prize. As many as 20 floats and vehicles participated in the lighted holiday parade.
