STAUNTON, Va. – The Mary Baldwin University Department of Athletics took part in the 2019 Staunton Christmas parade on Monday evening.

The department's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) decorated a float following the theme of "Small City, Bright Lights, Big Christmas" and was accompanied by the Fighting Squirrels' mascot, Baldwin, and dozens of members of SAAC.

Prior to the parade, which featured over 100 entries from around the city, there was a tree lighting with community members lining the streets from Augusta and Frederick streets down to Beverley Street.

The student-athletes who took part in the parade ranged from all currently sponsored intercollegiate programs in the department and spent the night waving to the crowd and handing out candy canes to onlookers.

The group from athletics were joined in the festivities by fellow-MBU associations, VWIL and the marching band.

Staunton has held the annual Christmas parade since the 1930s.

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