Bands, floats and Santa wow crowds at Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade

ROCHESTER, Mich. (WXYZ) - What a parade! Thank you to everyone who participated in and braved the cold to watch Sunday's Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Once again, WXYZ was proud to be a part of the event.

Glenda Lewis and Dave LewAllen hosted Sunday's broadcast of the parade that has become the state's largest Christmas parade.

This year's theme was "Candy Lane on Main." Several floats represented the theme through large candy cane elements and other sweets.

Marching bands from Rochester, Pontiac, Hazel Park and other area cities soldiered through temperatures in the 20s as they played favorite holiday songs to a crowd that packed the sidewalks of downtown Rochester.

As the parade came to an end at about 4 p.m., the guest of honor waved to eager children and smiling parents. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus declared this to be the most wonderful time of year.

View photos of nearly every band, float and community organization in today's parade.