By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Members of the Geneseo Kiwanis Club, from left, Tony Simon, Claire Crawford and Dick Ford will be decked out in Santa and Elf hats and carrying snow shovels as part of the “Marching Shovel Brigade in the Lighted Parade through downtown Geneseo on Saturday, Dec. 14, which is Christmas Walk Night. The group repeats chants to entertain the crowds that line the streets and their rhythmic phrases include, “If you want to do what’s right, come join us on Tuesday nights, (Geneseo Kiwanis Club meets on Tuesday nights); and “Kiwanis shovels set to go, now we need a little snow.” Club members agree that they “are pound to take part in community activities such as the Christmas Walk.”
Kiwanis Club member Dick Ford recalled how the “Brigade” began and said, “Following in the footsteps of the Kiwanis ‘Marching Spatulas’ which have led the Geneseo Music Festival Doo-Dah Parade in June since 1996, the Chamber of Commerce asked Kiwanis to participate in the Christmas Walk Lighted Parade, beginning in 2011.”
The “Marching Shovel Brigade” of Kiwanis Club members has been part of the Christmas Walk Lighted Parade for the last 13 years, with the exception of 2020 - Covid pandemic year. Photo by Claudia Loucks
