Toledoan Laura Alford hadn’t been to the East Toledo Holiday Parade since 1980.

On Saturday, she stood on East Broadway Street with her daughter, Abby Swanson, and her son-in-law, Carl Swanson, waiting for the parade to start in celebration of her birthday.

“I get the gift of their time, which is lovely,” Ms. Alford said.

They were some of the dozens of people who came out to the 53rd annual East Toledo Holiday Parade, hosted by the East Toledo Family Center. Later in the day, the Christmas Tree Ship was to dock at the National Museum of the Great Lakes for more holiday festivities in the neighborhood.

The parade saw Toledo Police Department patrol vehicles sporting reindeer antlers, fire trucks from the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, and floats and classic cars cruise down the st

See Full Page