‘Many happy returns’: Shepherdstown Christmas Parade brings Santa Claus, Christmas cheer back to town

An elf, as a member of the Sofa Kings of Frederick, rides his motorized sofa down German Street on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston
SHEPHERDSTOWN — Saturday morning dawned bright and surprisingly warm, which proved to be the perfect weather for the day’s main event in town, the annual Shepherdstown Christmas Parade.
The parade, which is run by the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown, featured a total of 56 entries, which ranged from walking groups, like the Jefferson High School Air Force ROTC Color Guard and Jefferson High School Charisma Dance Ensemble, to floats, like 1919 Buick Touring Car carrying Santa Claus and the bright green jeep carrying West Virginia Future Little Miss U.S. Agriculture Queen Kaylyn Ware and the Grinch, down German Street. Helping the parade come back to life after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, was something emcee Hans Fogle said he was pleased to do.
“I started doing this when I was with the radio station, so that was at least five, probably eight years ago,” Fogle said, referring to his time working as a news director and talk show host for the West Virginia Radio Corporation. “I love Shepherdstown, and anyway I can serve and help Rotary is wonderful for me.
“Rotary does a lot of great things in our community,” Fogle said, before mentioning his experience in his current position, as the public information officer for Jefferson County Schools, has made him even more pleased to continue emceeing for the parade. “Working with the school system, I know they do a lot for our schools and our students, so anyway I can give back and be part of the community is something I enjoy. I look forward to doing it every year.”
According to Fogle, he was first asked to emcee the event by Rotary Club of Shepherdstown member Peter Smith, who was and continues to be the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade organizer.

A gingerbread man reacts to parade goers, as he walks down German Street in the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston
Smith noted the parade was founded by a Shepherdstown resident, who then passed the torch on to the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown in 2013 when she could no longer lead it, since the club was already successfully organizing the Fourth of July Parade on the same parade route every year.
“We have been doing the Fourth of July Parade since 2007, so it was natural for us to take this over,” Smith said, noting the only cost for the parade is covered by the Corporation of Shepherdstown, which is employing James Welch, of Welch Sound, to set up sound equipment to make the parade entree announcing possible. “For the Fourth of July Parade, we have more veterans groups, but otherwise, we have a lot of the same groups who do both parades.”
Prior to the pandemic, the number of entries reached as high as 80 for the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade. Unfortunately, returning to those high numbers will take some work, Smith said, noting the initial entry number was lowered this year, due to eight entries backing out at the last minute.
“We did have some new entries, which is encouraging, but it’s going to take a while before we’re back to higher numbers,” Smith said.
- The Shepherdstown Middle School Band marches down German Street, playing a Christmas song, on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston
- Members of the New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds make their way down German Street, during the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston
- A gingerbread man reacts to parade goers, as he walks down German Street in the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston
- An elf, as a member of the Sofa Kings of Frederick, rides his motorized sofa down German Street on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston
- Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus wave to parade goers, as they are driven down German Street to close the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston

Members of the New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds make their way down German Street, during the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston

The Shepherdstown Middle School Band marches down German Street, playing a Christmas song, on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus wave to parade goers, as they are driven down German Street to close the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. Tabitha Johnston