Residents brave cold for Merry Cary

Six-year-old Lukas Etter bundled up Sunday morning to stand outside with his dad and thousands of other Cary-area residents for the annual Merry Cary holiday parade and festival.

Etter watched as marching band music filled the air, confetti drifted over the crowd and candy flew toward his hands.

With the temperature hovering around 20 degrees, Etter's father, Chad, made sure his son had on snow pants, a sweatshirt, a coat, mittens, a hat and boots to brave the weather. By the time the 70 or so groups in the parade passed by their spot on Main Street, though, Etter was ready to go home.

Those who could stand the cold a little longer stayed for visits with Santa, a chance to pet exotic animals at the petting zoo, pony rides, holiday storytelling, sleigh and wagon rides and extra band performances.

The parade is organized by the Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and funded by local businesses sponsorships.

“I think the community really looks forward to this,” said Suzanne Corr., executive director of the Chamber.

Joann Limpus is the fifth- through eighth-grade band director at Fox River Grove middle school. Her students also march in spring and fall parades, but she said they appreciate Cary's winter event.

“Part of it is the adventure of the cold,” Limpus said. “You never know what you're going to get that day.”

Limpus said it feels like the Merry Cary parade always falls on the coldest day of the year.

The Cary Grove Trojans high school marching band joined the middle school musicians, as did Girl and Boy Scout troops, local businesses, dance groups and athletic teams.

“It seemed long but not too long,” Etter said of the first Merry Cary parade he and his son have attended. “There were a lot of people out despite the cold.”