Parade to light up Clarinda

CLARINDA, Iowa — Clarinda will shine brightly Nov. 27 as the community hosts the 17th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade.

The parade, co-sponsored by the Clarinda Kiwanis Club and the Clarinda Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 6 p.m. on the downtown square.

“The Lighted Parade is the opening of the Christmas season for Clarinda, and it gets everyone in the Christmas spirit,” co-chairman Ken Garrett said.

Garrett has been involved with the parade since 1999, when the Kiwanis Club became a co-sponsor.

“You get to where you look forward to it,” he said. “There is a lot of work involved, but it is really enjoyable to see all the people getting ready and during the parade everyone has a good time.”

“I think the people really look forward to it,” co-chairwoman Karen Beaver said.

Preparations started this summer when the theme “Dear Santa” was selected.

Garrett said the parade committee considered several idea and ultimately selected “Dear Santa” because it was different from past themes and offered a lot of potential for participants.

“It appealed to everyone, young and old alike, and I think people felt they could do a lot of different things with this theme as far as decorating a float,” Beaver said.

“It’s always amazing to see how people interpret things, and I think they will really be able to show their imagination with this year’s theme,” Garrett added.

But there is also an underlying theme to the parade that has been carried over since the event was started in 1993.

The first parade was held two years after the Dec. 11, 1991, fire at the Page County Courthouse, and the emphasis has remained on thanking the area fire departments that helped battle that blaze.

“The true purpose of the parade is to honor the fire departments that assisted with the courthouse fire, and I think it is very important that we remember that every year,” Beaver said.

For that reason, firetrucks are given a place of honor following the color guard and Santa Claus in his sleigh.

“Neighboring communities like Red Oak, which sent its ladder truck, really helped that night. This is our way of saluting those firemen, not only from Clarinda, but all of the surrounding communities that helped save the Page County Courthouse,” Garrett said.

The Canopy of Lights that drapes the Clarinda square from the clock tower atop the courthouse also provides a stunning reminder that the historic building is still standing because of those efforts.

Turning on the Canopy of Lights to start the parade also has become the traditional start of the community’s Christmas celebration and people from far and wide come to see it.

“The Canopy of Lights is breathtaking, and knowing Santa will be there is something the kids really look forward to. We also appreciate all the support we receive from all the visitors. That’s what really makes the parade,” Beaver said.The final key has been the high level of community involvement.

“We would not have a parade if it was not for the support we get from the community and the businesses,” Beaver said.

“We couldn’t host an event like this if we didn’t have great volunteers. The people really get behind it, just like they do most things. Clarinda is very fortunate to have so many community-minded people,” Garrett said.

Entries will start lining up at 4:45 p.m. at the junior high school football field at 13th and Main Streets. The parade route begins at 13th and Washington, proceeds west on Washington Street around the square and finishes south on 15th Street to Grant Street.

Awards to be presented include the Kiwanis President’s Award for the best overall float; Best Display of Lights Award; the Best Theme Award for incorporating “Dear Santa”; and the Holiday Spirit Award.

While Garrett recalled a couple of bitterly cold nights for the parade, he said, the event has been very fortunate to generally avoid rain or snow.

Still, a snow/rain date of Saturday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m. has been set.

Along with the lighting of the Canopy of Lights and the parade, the American Red Cross will sponsor a soup supper on Friday night at Antique John’s. And, after the parade, children will be able to visit Santa Claus on the courthouse lawn.

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