KALAMAZOO, MI – There might not have been any snow, but Christmas spirit flurried through Kalamazoo with the 62nd annual Maple Hill Holiday Parade.

For many, the parade marks the beginning of the holiday season.

“It’s the official start,” Matt Shankle said. “It’s very festive and gets everybody in a good mood, so it’s just nice to be a part of it.”

Shankle watched the parade with his son, Anson, while his wife and daughter walked with Portage’s Academy of Dance Arts, one of 90 community groups that participated.

Matt said he always loves the larger-than-life inflatables that float over the parade each year, while Anson had his eyes on the “cool cars” that drove through.

Thousands of other families lined the streets of downtown on Saturday, Nov. 22, to kick off the holidays with cand

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