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The Hatteras Village Christmas parade proceeded along NC 12 on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 with parade watchers standing on new sidewalk and children scurrying to collect candy tossed by parade participants.

The parade was delayed a day due to rainy weather on a warm Saturday, Dec. 11. On Sunday, the temperature was 51 degrees with wind gusts around 20 miles per hour, but the skies were dry and sunny.

Acknowledging the weather, one float designer, and perhaps others, left off tinsel garland calculating that the wind would pull off the decoration.

The judges, set up at the town center, awarded prizes to the Froggy Dog Restaurant/Muffins and Scones entry. The large, trimmed out gingerbread house moved along NC 12 while gingerbread cookies were distributed along with a card for coffee and cinnamon roll from Muffins and Scones.

Second place went to the Cape Hatteras marching band. This fall, Cape Hatteras Secondary’s marching band competed at the Pasquotank Panther Band Classic and returned to Hatteras Island with four trophies. The band, competing against other 1A schools, won first place in visual presentation, second place overall and a second in music and general effect. Additionally, the band’s color guard was awarded third place.

Third place went to the “Fez,” the affectionate nickname for The Fessenden Center in Buxton. The float featured the video game Pac-Man.

The best golf cart award went to Ryan Oden.

All Hatteras Island fire and rescue operations participated in the parade, including Hatteras Island Rescue Squad and U.S. Coast Guard and volunteer fire departments from Chicamacomico Banks, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras village. As is tradition, Santa arrived on a Hatteras village fire truck at the very end of the parade.

Dare Sheriff Doug Doughtie led the parade for the 12th year. Holding the traditional second place in the parade lineup was Conner’s Supermarket.

Several entries made first time debuts, including the Cape Hatteras Secondary Class of 2022, the Purls, a clever name for the knitting group and its golf cart festooned with 75 homemade pompoms, and Hatteras Trailer Trash, featuring a reindeer tied to the front of the truck.

Dare County commissioners Danny Couch and Ervin Bateman walked the parade route as did the Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s lighthouses.

In all, about 30 entries participated in the parade this year.

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