Holiday Parade

I don't think we have ever missed our town's holiday parade.  It sets the tone for the season.  

This year, it seemed especially colorful, reflective of this place that's our home.  The entrants included: 

• lit up, joyful bikers,  
• belly dancers,
• a free-flowing high school band, 
• a uniform, regimented high school band,
• fire blowers (how did that pass the code?!),
• recycling trucks,
• port-a-potties,
• the town librarian, passing out books,
• an electric bus,
• a turn of the century fire truck,
• Dogs, dogs and more dogs,
• the crazy, puppet man,
• the chinese dragon,
• the county fair queen,
• Mr. and Mrs. Santa

My younger kids stood mesmerized.  My oldest wanted to throw a football with his dad on the sidewalk.  Frozen fingers, tantrums, and pre-teen distraction notwithstanding, I am holding onto this tradition.