When Dowagiac’s annual Candle-light Christmas Parade takes to the streets this Friday, a man who knows it better than anyone, Herman Black, will serve as its Grand Marshal.

It was on a Saturday afternoon in the late-1960s that Herman launched Dowagiac’s first holiday parade. A resident for 65 years, he worked at North End Grocery and then Judd Lumber for 29 years, and had served on the Chamber Board of Directors.  It was during that time that he and two other people organized the first parade, assisted by a two-member line-up crew.

Selected by Kim MacGregor, president of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, Black will ride in the parade as Unit 3, transported by C. Wimberley Automotive Group.

MacGregor, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies Friday night with Michael Caldwell, publisher of Leader Publications, is co-chairing the holiday event with Vickie Phillipson, Chamber of Commerce & DDA program director.

Black recalled Dowagiac’s inaugural holiday parade featured just six floats that first year.

“We received some snowfall that morning, which forced a few organizations to back out,” Black said. “A local couple saved the day by bringing in their horses and sleigh, so that Santa could still be in the parade. It was just beautiful.”

Much has changed since then. Dowagiac’s modern-day parade, which has grown to more than 100 units annually, represents businesses and organizations in Cass and Berrien counties, and even northern Indiana. Phillipson said it requires the staffing of 20 to 30 volunteers, including Chamber members, CERT volunteers, and the police and fire departments.

In the mid-90s, when it was moved from a Saturday afternoon event to an evening setting is when it really took off, as parade units were asked to add lighting to their floats.

Something that hasn’t changed through the years is the unpredictability of Michigan’s weather.  “Just as heavy snow that first year reduced the units to a procession of six, most locals will remember the parade a few years ago, which brought with it quarter-size snowflakes, just as units turned onto Front Street,” Phillipson said.

While this year’s second snow began falling Wednesday, Friday’s forecast is calling for unseasonably mild conditions.

The Candle-light Christmas Parade steps off at 7 p.m. at Front and Main streets, and circles the central business district on Front and then Depot Drive. Beginning at 6:15 p.m. at Beckwith Park is the annual Tree-lighting Ceremony and pre-parade entertainment featuring the ACTION Chorale and Positively Dance.

This year’s holiday events were underwritten by Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital and these corporate sponsors: AEP / Indiana Michigan Power, Burling & Gillesby DDS, Chemical Bank, Front Street Crossing / COA, Mahar Insurance and Vylonis Contracting.