Warm temperatures and sunny skies enticed residents to come out Saturday and enjoy Gloucester Citizen’s Christmas and Holiday Parade, Main Street’s business open house, and other weekend activities.

Throngs of people strolled the sidewalks from the Main Street Library to Botetourt Elementary School, enjoying outdoor vendors, special displays, visits with Santa Claus, and more.

"When the weather is as good as it was, we have half the people in the world it seems like," Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism supervisor Denise Carter said with a laugh.

The lavish parade had many decorated floats, marching units and motorized groups, and the crowd often expressed its enthusiasm with applause and shouts of appreciation.

The day ended with entertainment and lighting of the official Christmas tree installed on the Court Circle in memory of the late Claiborne Hogge, Mary Kimberly and Wrayfield Oliver.

"It was just a great day from beginning to end," Carter said. "Ther...