UPDATE 11/23/10 @ 11:30 p.m.
ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- One of the biggest Christmas parades in our region had children of all ages ready for Santa Claus.

But much of the Ashland Christmas parade is about much more than candy canes and cocoa.

Area marching bands played a holiday fanfare to the hundreds joining in this year's bright lights and Christmas dreams parade theme. But the Ashland parade also features numerous church sponsored floats, like the Catlettsburg Pentecostal Tabernacle.

And all did joyously proclaim the real reason for the season.

Beverly Ritchie says Christmas is about children and baby Jesus being born and dying for our sins.

Wanda Wells strongly believes in honoring Jesus on his birthday -- the rest is fine -- but she says this is Jesus' birthday.

Pastor Richard Suman noted that the baby Jesus was born and died so we can have our life and liberty and freedoms.

And 2010 parade grand marshal -- local gospel bluegrass icon Melvin Goins -- did not miss the message. Goins remarked that it’s a wonderful celebration, but Christmas is about a baby savior's birth and that 365 days a year, God takes care of us.

Hundreds of people from all across the country got to watch the parade streamed live to from WSAZ.com -- a first for the Ashland parade.

But, in case you missed it, WSAZ.com's Randy Yohe and Stephanie Schelkun will host the entire Ashland Christmas parade coming up from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, on myZ.

This year's theme is “Bright Lights & Christmas Dreams” and the parade grand marshal was bluegrass/gospel singer Melvin Goins. Marching bands from throughout much of our region entertained the crowd, and a brisk breeze made it feel a lot like Christmas.

WSAZ.com's Randy Yohe and Stephanie Schelkun hosted an upcoming show about the parade that will air on myZ.