Kids light up as Christmas parade floats through Broken Arrow
BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Sunday, December 02, 2012
12/02/12 at 6:14 AM
BROKEN ARROW - Greg Lawson and Cortney Scott decided to watch Broken Arrow's Christmas parade this year instead of hearing it from their home.
"It's so close that last year we were in our backyard wondering what that noise is," Scott said.
The couple stood along Main Street blocks from their home Saturday morning as floats, marching bands and fire trucks paraded through downtown for the Civitan Christmas Parade - part of a busy weekend for parades in the Tulsa area.
Organizer Steve Cowen said thousands attended, with crowds filling sidewalks for about three-quarters of the mile-long parade route.
"It was definitely a good crowd," he said. "I guess it went as well as any we've had."
With overcast skies, temperatures in the upper 60s and a stiff breeze keeping a chill in the air, "it was almost too good weather for a Christmas parade," he said. "That stuff amazingly enough affects the Christmas spirit."
Mandy Elias and her son, Bryan, 6, have made a tradition of the longtime parade. She celebrated this year's outing by wearing a leopard-print Santa hat.
"I've lived here all my life, so this is just a tradition," she said.
Bryan said he planned to ask his parents if he can come to the parade every day.
Down the street, Bruce Leonhart hoisted his daughter, Bella, 3, onto his shoulders just in time to see a group of young girls dancing down the street to Christmas music.
"The little dancers are her favorite," he said.
Lawson's son, Zach Framel, 4, liked a line of muscle cars better.
"I like the Mustangs and the Camaros," he said.
He also liked the candy that some parade participants handed to children as they passed.
Laell Stanford, 9, who came with her mother, Cina Stanford, and three siblings, explained that she loved the parade "because candy."
The parade season ramped up Friday night with Sand Springs' Festival of Lights Parade and continued with events throughout the area Saturday.
Tulsa's competing parades, the Tulsa Holiday Parade of Lights and Tulsa Christmas Parade, are scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday. The Parade of Lights will take place in downtown's Blue Dome District and the Christmas Parade will be at Tulsa Hills, 7200 S. Olympia Ave.
Other parades that day are scheduled in Claremore, Cleveland, Grove, Owasso and Shidler.
Original Print Headline: Kids light up as Christmas parade floats through BA
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Alexis Estep, 4, waves to parade participants as she sits on the shoulders of her father, Dale Estep, while they watch the annual Christmas parade Saturday in downtown Broken Arrow. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World
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