Mrs. Betty McDaniel was the Grand Marshal for the 2024 Pickens Christmas Parade, held at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 6 in the county seat of Pickens. McDaniel is well known in our area, including as the founder of the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program. (Click here to read The Pickens County Chronicle’s story from earlier this year when McDaniel was presented The Order of the Palmetto by State Senator Rex Rice and State Representative Davey Hiott during the YAM Super Kids Fest at the Hagood Mill. And click here for The Pickens County Chronicle’s coverage of last month’s Pickens Appalachian Folk Festival, where McDaniel also proudly watched some of her YAM students perform.)

A large crowd of all ages, from the young to the young at heart, turned out for the magical evening at the Pickens Christmas Parade, lining both sides of Main Street from Legacy Square to Pickens Presbyterian Church. Santa’s Workshop was the theme for this year’s parade. Serving as Masters of Ceremonies this year were Bo Stegall and Kimberly Kelly. In addition to many local parade entries, there were appearances by Miss South Carolina Davis Wash, and the Chicago Pipe Band, and, of course, Santa Claus.

Below, view more than 150 photographs from the 2024 Pickens Christmas Parade.