Holiday Angels
Dec 05, 2009 | 520 views | 1 
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SPARKS — Temperatures in the low 30s and wind chills didn’t stop crowds from lining Victorian Avenue on Saturday for the Sparks Hometowne Christmas Parade. The street was closed down on Saturday to make room for horses, dance troupes and some classic cars. This year was the 23rd year that the parade took place.
Center Stage dance, Boy Scouts of America, the Red Hat Society and the Girl Scouts of America were among more than 100 parade participants dishing out candy, waves and smiles to parade viewers.
After the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department kicked off the parade, the Sparks Police Department showed off some of its history by cruising down in classic cars including an International paddy wagon from the 1960s.
Sparks’ sister city Garibaldi, Ore., was also represented in the parade. Behind the Garibaldi float was this year’s Grand Marshal for the parade, season two “American Idol” finalist Kimberley Locke. Locke performed “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” which is one of the songs from her 2007 Christmas CD. Following her top three finish in season two of “Idol,” Locke has had eight Top 20 Adult Contemporary hits, three No. 1 dance hits and eight No. 1s across various Billboard charts.
Aside from Locke’s talent, the Hug High School and the Yvonne Shaw marching bands also provided music. Bundled up to protect against the cold, public officials also took part in the parade. Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell tossed out candy canes while Assemblymember Debbie Smith passed out marshmallows.
“It’s so cold today, but we come to the parade every year and after getting some hot chocolate, we just put in some of the marshmallows that she (Smith) threw, and we’re having a lot of fun,” Sparks resident Elysa Brenner said.
Brenner’s daughter, Emily, said her favorite part of the parade was all of the animals.
“I liked the doggie with the antlers,” 5-year-old Emily said.
During the parade, the Reno Mustang Club had a mini parade of its own with a series of seven Ford Mustangs from a 1968 to a 2008.
The Rotary Club, which hosts the Kids Fish Free day every year at the Sparks Marina, had on board kids fishing for candy canes. They held a drawing in the middle of the parade where they raffled off a $10,000 prize.
For additional photos from the parade, see page 5A and go online to www.dailysparkstribune.com
Center Stage dance, Boy Scouts of America, the Red Hat Society and the Girl Scouts of America were among more than 100 parade participants dishing out candy, waves and smiles to parade viewers.
After the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department kicked off the parade, the Sparks Police Department showed off some of its history by cruising down in classic cars including an International paddy wagon from the 1960s.
Sparks’ sister city Garibaldi, Ore., was also represented in the parade. Behind the Garibaldi float was this year’s Grand Marshal for the parade, season two “American Idol” finalist Kimberley Locke. Locke performed “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” which is one of the songs from her 2007 Christmas CD. Following her top three finish in season two of “Idol,” Locke has had eight Top 20 Adult Contemporary hits, three No. 1 dance hits and eight No. 1s across various Billboard charts.
Aside from Locke’s talent, the Hug High School and the Yvonne Shaw marching bands also provided music. Bundled up to protect against the cold, public officials also took part in the parade. Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell tossed out candy canes while Assemblymember Debbie Smith passed out marshmallows.
“It’s so cold today, but we come to the parade every year and after getting some hot chocolate, we just put in some of the marshmallows that she (Smith) threw, and we’re having a lot of fun,” Sparks resident Elysa Brenner said.
Brenner’s daughter, Emily, said her favorite part of the parade was all of the animals.
“I liked the doggie with the antlers,” 5-year-old Emily said.
During the parade, the Reno Mustang Club had a mini parade of its own with a series of seven Ford Mustangs from a 1968 to a 2008.
The Rotary Club, which hosts the Kids Fish Free day every year at the Sparks Marina, had on board kids fishing for candy canes. They held a drawing in the middle of the parade where they raffled off a $10,000 prize.
For additional photos from the parade, see page 5A and go online to www.dailysparkstribune.com
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comments (1)
« Mary Jones wrote on Sunday, Dec 06 at 04:00 PM »
Nice to see the Sparks Tribune staff in the parade. Looks like they are cold but having fun.Great slide show.
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