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Lee County hosted their Spirit of Christmas Parade and Festival, Saturday morning.

Officials estimate between 3,000-4,000 people turned out for today's festivities. The festival, which immediately followed the parade, featured food, arts and crafts vendors, children rides, and music, and provided a central location for the community to come together.

"It brings everybody closer together, some of these folks, we all stay so busy we only get to see each other around this time of year, it's just wonderful. And to see the kids and their excitement when they see Santa I got to see Santa, I was even excited," said the parade announcer Kurt Baker.

Many people at the parade were hoping to see Phillip Phillips as the parade’s Grand Master but officials say he just couldn’t make it.

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