Ho Ho Ho—The Season’s HERE

Caleb Bridges, 6, and Joe Giannino, 14, enjoy their snow day sliding down a small near their home on Highland Avenue in Randolph Monday. Across the state, kids and teachers took the day off. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

Winter arrived in Randolph this week every which way.

The holiday season kicked off Saturday, Dec. 1, with the annual Fantasy Parade sponsored by the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce. A chilly, but appreciative, crowd gave the parade entrants a warm reception as they came up Main Street.

The parade was organized and run by Lorrie Churchill and the Mid-State Riding Club Santa Claus rode in with the parade and will spend a good deal of his time the next three weeks patrolling downtown stores.

In addition four local churches held their annual Christmas Bazaars, offering all kind of mostly handmade merchandise. The annual Festival Bazaar at the Chandler Center for the Arts offered stunning creations by artists and artisans.

Anne Gorman made a fearsome Queen of Spades in Saturday's Fantasy Parade, organized by the Mid-State Riding Club. (Herald / Bob Eddy)

Two days later, winter weather rode in in dramatic style, dropping a foot of soft snow over the entire White River Valley, so that by Tuesday morning Vermont looked like every beautiful Christmas card you’ve ever seen.

Winners in the Fantasy parade were as follows: Judge’s favorite, Soldier on Parade, Carolyn Keyes, prize from Mid-State Sports; funniest, Jody Barna, Lady in Waiting to the King & Queen of Spades, Jerry Herbert and Anne Silloway, prize from Hammond’s East Valley Supply; best group, Ruth and Mary Hachnel from White River, prize from Cover to Cover; most original, Taylor Benson from Stockbridge, prize from Sky View Farm; Currier & Ives, Cheryl Rivers with Christmas puppies, cute kids, and Jingle Bells, maple syrup from Kevin Hall; most beautiful, Solange Rea as Northern Light, prize from Central Supplies.