It was cold and rainy Sunday evening, but that didn’t stop Pamplin from celebrating the Christmas season. The town held both a Christmas parade and Christmas market, featuring several creative decorations like homemade snowmen and an oil drum train. 

The duties of grand marshal actually went to several people this year, as the family of Gene Richardson held the title. Richardson was born and raised in the Piney Ridge area of Pamplin, going on to serve with the Appomattox County Sheriff’s Department for 31 years, with 24 of those as sheriff. 

“He would be excited and proud that Pamplin is coming alive again and truly honored to be chosen as ‘Grand Marshal in Memorian’,” said Pamplin Mayor Sarah Blackwell. 

Overall, it was easier for groups to sign up and take part this year, due to some help from Rodney and Donna Lawson. The owners of Fire and Safety Equipment Company covered the cost of all registrations for this year’s Christmas parade, so everyone could sign up for free. 

Money taken from the registrations allow the tiny town to be able to pay for trophies for the winners in each category. And speaking of winners, we had several on Sunday. It was Phillip Mobley in his 1949 Pacard winning for Antique Vehicle; George Womack won for best Antique Tractor; the best business entry went to Brandon Whitehead-American Soldier Tree Service; the best civic entry went to the Pamplin Area Legacy Supporters/The Dolly Parton Imagination Library and best religious entry went to Ronnie Franklin and Shannon Reed from Zion Baptist Church. 

“We had a pretty good turnout,” Blackwell said of Sunday’s parade. “I think it went pretty well, in spite of the rain and cold.” 

Starting at 4:30 p.m., the parade left the old Pamplin Elementary School on Church Street, looped onto Main Street and eventually made its way back to the school. And once the parade wrapped up, people made their way over to the Pamplin Train Depot, where a Christmas Market went on for several more hours.