As local residents prepare to celebrate the Christmas holiday, the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce announced on Friday the winners of the “Christmas Around the World” contests for entries in the annual Christmas parade.

This year’s parade saw a high turnout of both parade participants as well as observers, according to Chamber Director Tonya Stevens.

A team of judges reviewed and scored the parade entries as they made their way along the parade route. After the parade, those scores were compiled and calculated.

The Elizabethton Elks Lodge captured first place honors.

For their float, Lodge members made costumes representing various countries and cultures around the world to celebrate the theme for this year’s parade. They were joined on the float by the Elks Lodge mascot, Elroy the Elk.

Several members of the Elks Lodge took part in the event by making costumes, working on the float and participating in the parade including Exalted Ruler Jacklynn Morris, Jessi Hawkins, Dennise King, Kenneth Woods, Cathy Arnold, Brooke Lipford, Tina Robertson, Crystal Bailey, Sherry Woods, Rachel Havala, Gary Davis, Troy Coffee, Laura Cowan, Tim Hardin, and Gerald Arnold. Morris said the Lodge would like to thank PSG for providing the Lodge space to work on their float.

The Key Club at Unaka High School took home second place in the contest with their float.

Members of the Key Club portrayed a variety of popular Disney characters from around the world as their interpretation of the theme “Christmas Around the World.”

Members of Big Springs Baptist Church captured third place in the contest this year. Pastor Brian Cable said the church decorated their float to represent different countries. Even the Children’s Church group were involved in helping with the float by making crafts and decorations for it.