Blaze parade now at 80 units and there's still time for more entries
Want to be in a parade?
There’s still time to enter a unit or float in the Saturday, Nov. 28, Blaze of Lights parade.
As of Nov. 11 the parade has 80 units with a goal of 100, according to Junior Weihrauch, parade director. Based upon last year’s parade of 100 units, the parade will last one hour.
This year three new trophies are part of the parade awards.
Trophies follow:
Best floats
1 – First place trophy
2 – Second place trophy
3 – Third place trophy
Best units (not floats)
1 – Mayor’s Award
2 – Cultural Affairs Committee Award
3 – Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce Award
All floats and units are automatically entered into the judging. This year’s theme “A Christmas from the Past,” is a guiding theme for units and floats to consider when entering.
In addition a downtown business window-decorating contest uses the same theme.
Attachments at the bottom of this story provide a parade application form and letter explaining details of the parade.
This year’s parade forms at 4 p.m. on Snider Road at The Centre and the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool.
The parade begins at 5 p.m. and travels south on Main Street. A review stand is in front of the Presbyterian Church. The parade continues to College Avenue and turns onto East College. It ends at Harmon Road, just east of the Riley Creek bridge.
Winners will be announced from the review stand. Junior Weihrauch, parade director, and John George, master of ceremonies, will announce the units and floats and winners from the review stand.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- October 21 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Village of Beaverdam requests suggestions for park grant application
- Charles “Chuck” Wendall Collins, 63, owned Eagle Press Repairs
- Dwain L. Leiber, 87, owned Leiber Garage
- Kimberly Dawn Murphy, 55, taught at Findlay City Schools
- October 21 Bluffton Schools 2-hour delay
- Kaleidoscope Farms honoring veterans, thanking current troops, Nov. 8
- Filmmaker to preview documentary exploring life beyond incarceration
- ONU mobile health clinic at Senior Center on Oct. 28
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Columbus Grove-Bluffton Rd. closure planned for up to three weeks
- Two Pirate volleyball players make 1st team All-NWC
- 3 Pirate girls 1st team All-NWC soccer
- Pirates dominate All-NWC boys soccer awards
- Local filmmaker focuses on memories made by people and places
- Bluffton Public Library: Medicare 101
- BHS artists prepare Yankee Doodle Christmas Trees for Jingle Bell Stroll
Monday, October 19, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 14-18
- Ada Icon headlines, October 19
- JessExpress Travel is the Icon's newest advertiser
- Gatchel 7th in girls, Pirates 4th at NWC cross country meet
- Veterans invited to Pandora-Gilboa banquet, November 10
- Wearable sculptures featured in exhibit On Soft Ground
- Historic depot rentals offered for meetings and parties