After 14 years as full-time residents of the Coachella Valley, Kirk and I finally checked off a long overdue item on our desert to-do list—the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade.
"Mary, come join us for this year's parade. It's fabulous and will get you into the Christmas spirit!" exhorted Lou Armentrout, my enthusiastic idea guy.
So, that's how we found ourselves bundled up on a crisp winter's evening this past Saturday, jostling happy crowds in downtown Palm Springs to watch the 19th annual iteration of the city's signature holiday event. 80,000 people admiring 80 floats, with earnest but out-of-step high school marching bands, car-club enthusiasts and, this year, even giant aerial balloons.
Lou and partner, Michael Welch, hunkily donned their vintage Ohio University letterman jackets (my alma mater and Lou's) and strode purposefully through the throngs to garner us good vantage spots.
Although it's not the Disneyland Electrical Parade—granddaddy of all nighttime spectacles—the lighthearted parade has grown steadily through the years and exudes good-natured bonhomie to satisfy all attendees. I was no exception.
Palm Canyon Drive was itself on display, with blazing stars arcing from the lampposts. We were stationed near the historic theatre now housing The Palm Springs Follies and as I watched the giant balloons being carefully lowered underneath the street lights to then bounce up against a backdrop of lit palm trees and vintage storefronts, I thought, for the umpteenth time, how lucky I am to live in this special place.
My camera wasn't quite up to the daunting task of capturing the plethora of lights adorning floats, trucks and cars. Just enjoy the colorful blur!
This year's Celebrity Grand Marshal was local-boy-done-good Michael Costello, a worthy finalist from Lifetime's most recent Project Runway.
Since we've watched every season of the creative show, I shouted out my appreciation. Seems he's already landed a new TV gig with the runner-up, Mondo Guerrero.
The parade's 2010 Guardian Angel was Palm Springs resident and philanthropist Jackie Lee Houston. Wearing oversize glasses, she genially greeted the crowds from atop her lit chariot.
One of the crowd pleasers was the antique fire truck pulled by a trio of white Percherons. They would wait patiently for street space, then gallop energetically, steam billowing from the engine. The audience roared its pleasure. A 21st century version followed, its front and rear drivers deftly working in unison to circuituously maneuver the bifurcated behemoth down the narrow street. Pretty amazing and the crowd loved it as well.
Another machine earning crowd kudos was the world's largest tractor. At 13 feet tall, 17 feet wide and 30 feet long, the formidable giant elicited murmurs of approval as it lumbered down the street. Sponsored by Primetime, the Coachella Valley's largest agricultural producer, the Caterpillar tractor bore the company's happy families high above the parade watchers.
But my favorite entrant was the parade's smallest—a twirling cupcake, complete with bon bon. Sometimes, less is truly more.
After the long trek back to the car, I soothed my cold limbs in front of Lou and Mike's fireplace before enjoying a hearty bowl of custom chili with their good friends, Denise and Michael. Although Kirk methodically picked out the brussel sprouts—Michael's creative contribution to the dish—the chef didn't take umbrage and good humor prevailed to cap off a memorable evening.
And, I do believe I've caught a little Christmas spirit as well!
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