Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade goes “Inside Santa’s Workshop”

Editor’s note: The details in this post were compiled from information found on the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce website, www.rrc-mi.com.

The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the theme for the 2012 Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade. Selecting the title “Inside Santa’s Workshop” the parade will reflect every child’s image of that magical factory at the North Pole. The committee is asking children’s groups, community organizations and local businesses to use the parade’s theme to create their parade entry. Of course, the workshop’s foreman will make an appearance in the parade as well. Committee chairman, Tim Crawford said, “We will have Santa in the parade like every year.”

Held on Sunday,
December 2, 2012, the parade begins at 1:45 p.m. at the corner of Tienken and Rochester Roads and continues south along Main Street to Third Street in Downtown Rochester. This year’s Grand Marshals are Ginny and Ray de Steiger. The semi retired owner of Ray Electric and his wife of 62 years have lived in Rochester Hills for almost 50 years.

The nominations submitted in their honor tell a tale of enthusiastic involvement in the life of the community. Beginning with scouts and developing through Rotary, Crittenton Hospital, Avon Players, Oakland University, Meadow Brook Theatre, the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester and more, the de Steigers led by example, giving freely of their time and treasure. Mrs. de Steiger is a charter member and past president of the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan. Ginny says the de Steiger family has a history of Hometown Christmas Parade involvement also. “The boys were in the Parade as scouts, we had a baton twirler in the Parade and our son David even had the job of walking behind the Parade’s horses to keep the street clean.”

Ginny says she has composed a letter of thanks to the community for this honor. “The parade is such a big part of what we love and who we are,” the former Rochester High School teacher explained, ”It is part of our values, and we are truly touched.”

The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce thanks their partners Oakland University, Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, Bill Fox Chevrolet, Shelton Buick GMC, Genisys Credit Union, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Detroit Regional Chamber for their support.