Forget the traditional red and green of Christmas.
This year, Pink — the colorful singer, not the mere color — kicked the annual Festival of Lights Parade into overdrive Saturday evening, despite floats moving appropriately slowly along Washington Street in downtown Columbus.
Her recorded tune, “Get the Party Started” booming from speakers on the Dorel Juvenile Group USA gingerbread house entry near the front of the procession seemed to do precisely that — all in front of a crowd of probably 7,000 people, including some eight people deep on both sides of the street in front of The Commons. The song even had the gingerbread men on the float excitedly dancing as if Christmas already had arrived.
The holiday happening, unfolding in 38-degree weather, also featured plenty of the major characters from the season, either in a physical likeness on a float or in a song or a sign. There was Frosty, Rudolph and the one chap many have come to either hate or love.
“We usually like to see the Grinch near the end,” said Craig Cox, kneeling on the sidewalk with wife Jessica.
About 20 minutes later, the formerly Meanie Greenie, clad in a Santa hat and seemingly filled with cheer, came down the street aboard a float while he energetically alternated between air guitar and sax to accompany a loud rock tune.
For more on this story, including a photo gallery, see Monday’s Republic.
