Santa rides ‘Magic Ship,’ one of 30 entries during Holiday
Lights Parade
Morgan Hill – The downtown was full of sparkling lights, songs, sights and sounds of the holiday season Saturday night as Morgan Hill’s “Holiday Lights Parade” marched through the downtown.
Dancing presents, twinkling angels, pijama-clad “Polar Express” riders were all a part of the fun as wide-eyed children and smiling adults took in the festive air downtown.
The 15th annual parade had 30 entries, eight more than last year, not including “Santa’s Magic Ship,” which traditionally brings up the rear of the parade. Entries included everything from law enforcement to local dignitaries in cars to the Live Oak High Emerald Regime Marching Band and the Sobrato High Swing Marching Band, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, martial arts academies, sports teams and other groups.
Several new entries this year added to the parade’s jolly feeling. Bright Beginnings Preschool and Daycare and Little Gym of Morgan Hill both included their own tiny clients, dressed in holiday finery, that drew “awwww’s” from the crowd.
Champions Academy’s large group was a cheery addition; and a second group of showy cars, Cruzn Fusion from Santa Cruz, joined parade veteran Monterey Bay Cruisers. Both car clubs cruised the parade route with spectacular decorations and lighting, some with the car owners’ furry friends inside, “dressed” for the occasion.
Other new elements this year added sparkle at the end of the parade. In the past, the procession has moved north from Fifth Street in the northbound lane of Monterey Road up to First Street, where, at the end of the parade, Mayor Dennis Kennedy presided over the tree lighting ceremony.
This year, parade organizers switched direction, moving the parade south from First Street down to Dunne Avenue, where the tree lighting ceremony took place at the Community and Cultural Center. Once at the center, the crowd was entertained by carols by Suzanne’s Music School and the owners of the Music Tree and performances by Lana’s Dance Studio.
The town Christmas tree, a 16-foot Redwood, was donated by Ludwigs Tree Farm in San Martin. Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy turned on the tree’s lights for the crowd’s enjoyment.
Barbara Kimmich, parade chairwoman for five years, said she heard “very positive” comments from the community about the change.
“I think everyone was pleased with the change, with all of the things going on; people loved going down to the center afterwards, and I’m very thankful for the center, for allowing us to use the facility,” she said. “We look forward to expanding on it for next year, making it even better.”
Gina Rios, who brings her daughter, Carla, to see the parade each year, thinks the change will bring more people out each year.
“I think once people hear how good this was, they’re going to be sorry they didn’t come,” she said. “I think we’ll have a great crowd next year, after word gets around.”
Kimmich said though she didn’t have an official number, she believed this year’s attendance was up from last year’s 2,000 spectators.
“Normally, the crowds taper off, but I think we were packed all down the route,” she said.
Logistically, things went smoothly she said.
“We had four Morgan Hill police officers who were just great, and the Public Works department did a great job,” she said. “We have a group of four volunteers, that, every year, just plan their evening around being our parade marshals. And Jim Tarp, with Jet Electric, he just comes down every year and makes sure all the power is working.”
Kimmich said it is the community involvement and cooperation that brings her back every year to chair the event.
“I love doing it, it’s a great community event,” she said. “It’s not me alone doing it, that’s the point. It’s a great community collaborative.”
The parade is sponsored by the Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club. This year, the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill joined in to decorate the downtown from Main to Dunne avenues.
“Just to show how dedicated our parade volunteers are, I was contacted by Connie Ludwig in July, and she was excited to tell me she already had the tree picked out … in July,” Kimmich said.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at [email protected].
