Update from the Orion Area Parade Group:

In light of the tragic events in our sister community of Oxford on November 30, the Orion Area Parade Group has postponed the Holly Jolly Folly and Orion Lighted Christmas Parade. We cannot celebrate the season while our community is hurting. The Holly Jolly Folly will be held Friday, December 17th and the Parade will take place (at 6 p.m.) on Saturday, December 18th. Please join us in extending our deepest sympathies and prayers to our grieving Oxford friends and neighbors.

By Jim Newell

Review Editor

The Reighard family was named the Grand Marshals of the 2021 Orion Lighted Parade for their continued support of the parade and the Orion Area Parade Group.

“We’re honoring them for everything they have done for the parade group for years,” said Bill Kokenos, president of the Orion Area Parade Group. “They’ve been an integral part of the parade group since the day I joined the parade group.”

Kokenos said that Rob and Donna’s son, the late Anthony Reighard, and Anthony’s wife Christina, also supported the parade group. “Anthony, especially, had different ideas of what we could do each year to make the parade better.”

Rob, Donna, Christina and Hailey Reighard, Anthony’s and Christina’s daughter, will serve as Grand Marshals and ride in the parade and be guests of honor at the Holly Jolly Folly on Friday, the signature fundraiser for the parade, hosted by Golling Buick GMC.

For more information on the Orion Lighted Parade or the Holly Jolly Folly, visit orionlightedparade.com and the OAPG Facebook page.

The Orion Area Parade Group is bringing back the annual Orion Lighted Parade beginning at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 in downtown Lake Orion with the theme, Christmas in Toyland.

The parade will feature marching bands, decorated floats, boy and girl scout troops, dancers, first responder vehicles, businesses, non-profits, school and community groups and Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will be at Village Hall, 21 E. Church St., after the parade.

The parade departs from Blanche Sims Elementary and travels south down Florence Avenue, west on Flint Street then to Anderson Street to Front Street, then north on Broadway Street to Elizabeth Street and ends at the Ehman Center on Lapeer Street.