Woonsocket Group Brings Most Original Float To Bristol

Santa made a rare summer appearance at the Bristol Fourth of July parade on Monday, waving to more than 1,000 of the state's naughty and nice from atop an award-winning float created by

The float, created in part to promote the Blackstone Valley Alliance's Polar Express, won Most Original of the Non-Commercial entries in the float competition.  A wintry throwback on a hot summer day, the parade entry featured Santa seated in his sleigh and surrounded by patriotic flags and symbols.

Oscar Hancock of American Beauty Signworks designed the float at his shop in Woonsocket, fabricating parts in advance, then disassembling the structure to head down to Bristol Monday morning.

"I've been to a lot of parades but this is by far the biggest and most impressive," Hancock said.

Hancock designed a similar ride for Santa at last year's Autumnfest parade and thought it would be neat to enter his work on a larger scale. The prize however, which beat out 22 other entries in the competition, was something of a surprise.

"We didn't go down there with the intention of winning. I mean, I always try to win, but it's pretty astounding coming from this part of the state and competing on a larger scale," Hancock said. 

Members of the sign design business rode with seasonal participants from The Polar Express, a popular local winter attraction offering visitors a ride on the Providence/Worcester Railroad complete with a visits from Santa, a lively narration, gifts and sing-a-longs. The 90 minute tour departs from the Woonsocket Train Depot throughout November and December each year.

Hancock said children along the parade route greeted Mr. Claus cheerfully and many parents told him they'd been waiting for Santa to show up at the yearly festivities.

"It was definitely worth it," said Hancock. "The parade was a lot of fun."