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 10,000 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.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryThe 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.
The parade is popular enough that many people select their favorite area along the mile-long route well beforehand.
For instance, two hours before the parade, Randy Blackburn already staked out his spot at Sixth and Washington streets. The locale was right in front of Viewpoint Books for what he considered the best viewpoint. Blackburn pulled his tiny grandchildren, ages 10 months and 2 years, in a wagon adorned with Christmas lights and red and white garland. He and his wife have attended nearly every year.
“We’ve always liked it for the sake of the kids, and of course everybody likes all the lights,” Blackburn said. “We brought all our boys here every year. And they always loved it.”
The local Come As You Are Ministries featured a float with an oversized golden crown hovering over a manger scene depicting the Christ child. The name Jesus was spelled out in red glitter. Dinah Staggs, one of the youth ministers, figured the scene was a natural one.
“Well, of course,” Staggs said. “Because Christmas is the day when we celebrate his birth.”
Earlier in the day, a new, shortened annual Christmas Village inside the Commons had attracted about 1,500 people in just the first two hours time, according to Commons Manager Shanda Sasse. That made it one of the better-attended villages since they began in 2013.
The gathering clearly was a hit, backed by a varied seasonal soundtrack that included such songs such as “Baby It’s Cold Outside” — even though it was a sunny 45 degrees at the time.
But crafted snowflakes hung from the venue’s ceiling to make the surroundings more fitting. One of the warmest areas for holiday memories once again was the Columbus Area Railroad Club’s display of model trains, where 4-year-old Landon Blasdel stood transfixed while his family smilingly watched him watching.
“This is the one of the few things that can hold his interest for an extended period of time,” said mother Audra Blasdel.
But then, for many, Christmas becomes a magical time of chugging into the past.
“It’s been wonderful,” Sasse said looking over the village crowd about a half hour before activities finished. “And it’s so great to see everyone having so much fun.”
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29
Years of the parade
100
Entries
1,500
Estimated Christmas Village attendance
7,000 or more
Estimated parade attendance
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