WELLS — Big smiles, loud sirens, fire engines and a band or two. There were the Gym Dandies on unicycles, the scouts and a lone bagpiper. There were horses, the winning Wells Warriors football team, and the big guy himself — Santa — arriving on a fire truck.

It was the 31st annual Wells Christmas Parade, an event put on by the Wells Chamber of Commerce. U. S. Route 1 was shut down from Wells Plaza to the junior high school for the event Sunday afternoon that saw hundreds of adults and little ones brave the chilly temperatures.

Babies and toddlers were bundled in snow suits against the cold, and there were plenty of Santa hats and other festive attire to boost the Christmas spirit.

There was waving and cheering and even more smiles as those marching tossed candy to the little ones. Eager youngsters scrambled to grab the sweet treats, and their parents seemed resigned to how all that sugar might manifest itself later in the day.

Syerra Chick, of Wells, was celebrating her 6th birthday Sunday at the parade.

What did she like best? That was a question she didn’t need to think about.

“Santa,” she said. “And I saw two of my friends.”

Lena Campbell of Wells was among those watching the parade. She was there to see her daughter, Nancy, and granddaughters Emily and Ashley, march with the Girl Scouts and the cheerleaders.

This wasn’t her first parade this Christmas season — Campbell made the rounds, attending Ogunquit’s on Saturday, Sanford’s a week ago and the Dover, New Hampshire, parade two weeks ago.

“I enjoy it. I like to see the kids and the people in the parade,” she said.

About that candy? While most was tossed by hand, one fellow dispensed his from the comfort of the passenger seat of a truck drawing a float.

“A candy launcher, that’s genius,” said Jenna Sevigney.

Sevigney, of Wells, said she’s been attending the parade since she was a child.

“It’s tradition,” she said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].