Thousands gathered in the chilly but dry evening air Saturday
night for the 16th annual Holiday Lights parade through Morgan
Hill’s festively decorated downtown.
Morgan Hill
Thousands gathered in the chilly but dry evening air Saturday night for the 16th annual Holiday Lights parade through Morgan Hill’s festively decorated downtown.
The parade kicks off the holiday season for the city, culminating with the lighting of the city’s holiday tree on the lawn of the Community and Cultural Center.
This year, the parade had an added oomph, as the award-winning Live Oak High Emerald Regime and Color Guard performed in front of the community center the show that recently won them first place in the Western Band Association’s championships.
Rain earlier in the day made many nervous, but none fell during the parade, and crowds of people lined the route from First Street to the Community and Cultural Center. The tree lighting ceremony, following the performance by the Emerald Regime, was also well-attended.
Carrie Castro, who has brought her son, Ryan, from Watsonville to watch the parade for several years, said he looks forward to seeing Santa on his “Magic Ship of Christmas” each year.
“It really helps us get in the holiday spirit,” she said.
The parade, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Morgan Hill, had 31 entries, including a Marine color guard to lead off and two PT Cruiser groups, including the Cruzn Fusion from Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay cruiser group.
“Everybody was wonderful, but I do have to mention that Patty’s Childcare was probably our most creative entry,” said organizer Barbara Kimmich. “Some of the parents own businesses, so they were able to donate a lot, and they had six different floats, each one very creative, one of them even had the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Kimmich expressed her appreciation for volunteers who “went above and beyond” to help out, such as Rocke Garcia who donated the tall tree for the tree lighting ceremony.
