The annual Home for the Holidays festival and parade marked the beginning of another Christmas season in Great Bend Saturday night. The parade line-up at Brit Spaugh park swelled with several creative floats late afternoon for the parade that started at 5:30 p.m. It was followed by the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Trail of Lights at 6:15 p.m. Attendees took their pick of many free activities including ice skating, horse drawn carriage rides, and free food including hot dogs, funnel cakes and hot chocolate. Santa made an appearance too.