Actually, it was a green, green Christmas Parade.  The 47th Camarillo Christmas Parade was decidedly green this year. The theme of the parade was "A Green Christmas". Not green as in Christmas tree green, but green as is environmentally conscious green.

Marching bands and floats were decorated with plastic bottles and recycled items. The environmental theme provided a fun twist to the annual parade, delighting everyone with the creative thinking of the parade participants.

The San Gabriel High School marching band showed their creativity by attaching cans and bottles to their tubas and drums. Scripps Ranch High School  wore mismatched old band uniforms from years past.   Valencia High School showed their practical environmental mindedness by wheeling bins along the parade route so that parade spectators could dispose of their bottles and cans.

The float designers were as creative as the marching bands. The winner of the Sweepstakes Float Award was a pushcart with a rotating tree made of 1,000 plastic bottles. All components of the float were recycled parts. The push cart was powered by congregational members of the Peace Lutheran Church of Camarillo. The float was titled "Heavenly Peace".

Another creative float, "Leave No Trace" was entered by the Cub Scout Pack 3858. The float featured a soda can Christmas tree. The decorations for the float were made from magazines, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  The Cub Scouts took the green theme a step further and for two months before the parade collected recyclable items. When the parade ended the scouts crushed all the cans they had collected and boxed them up. The boxes of cans will be taken to a recycling center. The funds earned will then be given to a charity.

The 47th annual Camarillo Christmas Parade also featured a Marching Band competition and carnival. The marching band competition was held before the parade began. The carnival was held after the parade at the Camarillo Community Center Park. The carnival featured games, live music, vendor booths and a large variety of great foods.

If you are wishing you could have seen this holiday environmental themed parade, wish no longer! The parade will be televised this Saturday (December 20) at 7p.m. on the Time Warner Cable Channel 25.

Float and Band Award Winners

If you would like to particpate in Camarillo's 48th Annual Christmas Parade (December 12, 2009) you can call the Pleasant Valley Recreations and Parks Department at: 482-1996 ext. 18. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and give you information on volunteer opportunities.