News : Christmas season arrives in Vinton; Santa, veterans ride in parade

A pair of horses pulls a decorated wagon along the parade route.

Santa arrived Thursday at the end of the lighted patriotic Christmas parade.

Group hug: Santa gets embraced by two children at once Thursday after his courthouse arrival.

Veterans participated in the annual parade.

The holiday season began in Vinton on Thursday, as the traditional lighted patriotic Christmas parade, Lions chili supper fund-raiser for the Honor Flight organization, and the gathering of children around Santa at the courthouse all took place.

A new tradition is also under way -- the Art Store was open Thursday night downtown. There, many of the members of the Vinton Guild of Fine Arts displayed paintings and many other works of art. The store will be open on weekends until Christmas.

See more photos of Thursday's activities HERE.