By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun
 

     ALPINE — The Alpine Christmas Parade was a huge success. Community members started gearing up, and the streets began to close down for the holiday extravaganza about 5:30 p.m. last Friday evening
As the temperatures started to drop and the sun went down, the participants of the Alpine Christmas Parade started to stage their vehicles and get ready for a big night of holiday fun. Children everywhere were putting on red and white hats, knitted gloves or mittens and sparkly scarves. There were at least three jolly old Saint Nicks who made appearances on decorated vehicles in the parade.
     The parade started with excitement, as a silver Ford F150 carting the first Santa of the parade down Alpine Boulevard towards the Alpine Community Center, waving and spreading that magical holiday cheer. Waste management made a showing with a vintage white flatbed truck decorated with lights, and also drove a miniature model of a garbage truck that was custom made for such events.
     Carl Scherbaum said that everyone at Waste Management loved the idea of building the custom parade vehicle that features an area for approximately five kids to ride in the back and throw out goodies to the attending crowd.
A young brass band followed behind our American flag respectfully held by the Marine Corps League Desert Leathernecks Detachment 1171 Honor Guard from Imperial Valley. There were cars both vintage and just beautiful as well as trailers decorated for the season with lights and carolers and more Santas.
     The California Highway Patrol made an appearance with their mascot and the Boy Scouts displayed another set of flags. The Japatul Valley Fire Department drove their yellow and red fire trucks down the boulevard decorated with a huge blow-up Santa and Snowman and strings of Christmas lights. McGruff was their decked out in his overcoat and Santa hat followed by the sheriff’s vehicles, waving to a very happy crowd.
     A Labrador Retriever Society walked a group of well-behaved, handsome Black Labs who were also decked out for the event. There were motorcycles, mini-bikes, lighted dune buggies, The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, Crystal the Ice Princess from Viejas, and even decorated boats all in this line-up of lighted Christmas spirit, trolling through Alpine.
     What a wonderful sight to see, everyone smiling, happy, and the line-up that was enjoying the parade was just as happy being pummeled with tossed candy canes and treats.
     Alpine Rentals rigged a giant ladder, decorated like a Christmas tree, and carted it, lifting and lowering it precariously with a fork lift..
     So much of the community turned out for this event that it spurned more participants on for next year. People could be heard speaking about how they were going to get their dogs’ lighted vests, or tractors decorated for next year.
     After the parade rolled by, Alpine was invited to the Community Center for the Annual Snow Festival. On the hill, next to Alpine Elementary snow was packed and smoothed into a sledding slope for all who cared to take a try.
     There were sliders of all ages taking a whirl down the snow, while the Boy Scouts and other young volunteers from the community attempted help, by catching people at the bottom.
     Christmas music and goodies abounded as the Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus cooked and different groups around town offered more Christmas cheer.
     As everyone gathered in the Community Center’s parking lot, people were finding their friends and enjoying great company for a December Friday night. Who in Alpine really needs the “December Nights” of downtown, when we have this wonderfully friendly country rendition of what holiday gathering is all about!