By Matt de Simone
A blanket of weekend snow set the scene for a picturesque start to the holiday season as the Town of Fincastle held its annual Christmas parade last Saturday. Residents lined the streets to watch the floats, performers, and community groups make their way through town in what has become a beloved Botetourt County tradition.
Town Manager Melanie McFadyen praised the event’s turnout and atmosphere, noting how the weather helped elevate the celebration. “The parade was a huge success and so beautiful with the snow!” she said.
This year’s parade featured a wide range of entries from local organizations, clubs, and businesses. Participants included the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office, Botetourt 4-H FRC Robotics, Botetourt 4-H Honey Bee Club, Botetourt 4-H Cloverbud Horse & Pony, Botetourt Libraries, Botetourt YMCA Dance Program, Brent Hershey State Farm, Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, Democratic Committee of Botetourt, Fair View B&B, Fincastle Baptist Church, Floyd Ward School of Dance, Lenk Orthodontics, Revitalized Construction LLC, Rooted Boutique & Salon, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Lord Botetourt FFA, First Bank, Sinks Septic, and Botetourt 4-H.
Judges recognized standout floats in both the non-religious and religious categories:
Non-Religious Category Winners
• 1st Place: Floyd Ward School of Dance
• 2nd Place (tie): Botetourt 4-H Honey Bee Club; Botetourt Sheriff’s Department
• 3rd Place: Farm View B&B
• Honorable Mentions: Rooted Boutique & Salon; First Bank
Religious Category Winners
• 1st Place: Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints
• 2nd Place: Zion Hill Baptist
• 3rd Place: Fincastle Baptist
The holiday spirit continues in Botetourt County this weekend as the Town of Buchanan prepares for its annual Christmas parade, set to begin at 4 p.m. this Saturday.
Local lawmen outwit the Grinch
After a week of dodging the law, the Grinch finally met his match when Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office deputies—Fincastle’s finest—captured the Christmas spoilsport in a staged arrest that kicked off the parade with plenty of laughs.
Earlier in the week, the Grinch had already been “arrested” for trying to steal Christmas yet again. As part of his punishment, Sheriff Matt Ward and his deputies decided that parading him through town might help the Grinch’s heart grow a size or two.
To no one’s surprise, their plan failed: the Grinch escaped briefly, only to be nabbed and locked up once more.
Rumor has it the Sheriff’s Office will transport the Grinch to Buchanan this Saturday—assuming he doesn’t slip away first.
