Great Falls Connection

McLean — More than 60 groups marched down the mile-long parade route for the WinterFest Parade in McLean on Sunday, Dec. 4.

“It’s been around for a long time,” says Maureen Scholz a seven-year member of the parade’s steering committee.

It used to be a homecoming parade back in the 1970s and ‘80s before it fizzled out, she says. It was resurrected eight years ago by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and has been run by the steering committee for the last seven years.

“We wanted to bring awareness that McLean is a home town and to basically show off,” she says.

Trish Butler has been involved in the parade for the last eight years and has been leading the steering committee.

“She pours her heart and soul into this event every year,” Scholz says of Butler.

Butler gives credit for the parade’s resurrection to two retired volunteer firefighters: Clyde Clark of the McLean Volunteer Fire Department and Homer Johns of the Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department.

“Firefighters have always marched in parades, but there just wasn’t a venue for them to do that in McLean,” Butler says.

Like Reston and other surrounding communities that have holiday parades, Clark and Johns “wanted to create community spirit here,” she says.

The first parade eight years ago had 50 units and this year boasted more than 60.

“We tend to get repeats marching in the parade,” Scholz says. “It’s become an exciting event that people are waiting for each year.”

Though downtown McLean is the focus, groups come from all over Fairfax County to participate, including Falls Church, Reston, Great Falls, Herndon and Vienna.

Last year, more than 800 people watched the parade. This year’s count is still being finalized, but Scholz anticipates that around 600 people attended. She attributes the anticipated dip to Sunday’s chilly weather.

The cold did not stop elementary students from performing at the Langley Shopping Center, says Scholz, who runs the pre-parade entertainment each year while her husband and son set up the stage equipment.

Children from the Westgate Elementary School in Falls Church and the Spring Hill Elementary and Kent Gardens Elementary schools in McLean performed an hour before the parade began.

“There’s an old couple that come out every year and put their chairs right up front,” she says. “It’s a nice feeling to be a part of a hometown tradition.”

Food trucks were parked on Old Chain Bridge Road on the parade route to feed parade goers.

Trucks included Mama’s Donut Bites, which specializes in hot mini donuts; the Crepe Love Truck, an extension of Crêpe Amour, a creperie and café brand in Vienna; and Doug the Food Dude, a caterer and food truck serving the Northern Virginia Metro area.

An annual tradition for the parade’s organizers is to give some money that they raise back to the community. They do this by donating to Share, Inc., a nonprofit that provides emergency assistance to those in need in McLean, Pimmit Hills and nearby areas of Northern Virginia.

“We feel that Share is the best way to give it back,” says Scholz.

Last year, the steering committee presented the Share with a $1,500 check. Organizers plan on giving the organization another check in January.

The steering committee will start to organize next year’s festivities in August.

“We’re always looking for volunteers to help plan the parade and are always looking for groups to support it financially,” says Butler.

A video and photo slideshow of the parade will be posted on the parade’s website at www.mcleanwinterfest.org