A week and a half ago was the 25th anniversary of the Richmond Christmas Parade. My boss and other Dominion employees chaired the event. For the last few months, I've also been assisting with the preparations, such as making ID badges for volunteers, coordinating the printing of promotional materials, writing scripts for the parade, etc. This was the big day! It was about 34 degrees. COLD. We got to sit in the VIP grandstands, drinking hot chocolate and eating donuts as the parade went by.
Richmond was the first city to implement a public transportation system using the electric streetcar in 1888. Streetcars were discontinued around the 1940s, but there are still a few converted cars still kicking around...
Parker was FREAKING OUT when the Star Wars characters rolled through. There were tons of them, and Parker was yelling out the name of each one at the top of his lungs in excitement. I didn't even try to apologize to the guy sitting in front of Parker. I mean how can you ask a kid to bridle that kind of excitement?
The grand marshal for the parade was Leland Melvin, a University of Richmond graduate who is a real, live astronaut. He resembles the balloon only slightly.
About 90 minutes into the parade, my boss said they needed more banner carriers, and asked Parker and I to help out. Little did we know what we were getting into!
It turned into a 3-mile walk down Broad Street in that 34-degree air. We waved at the camera crews taping the event. Parker's little legs carried him for 2 solid hours. At the end of the parade route, we looked for a shuttle to take us back, but we couldn't find it. Chagrined, we made it about halfway back to the starting point (another mile or so) before Jeremy came to rescue us. (He'd been at home to pick up his sister from the airport). What a day. Later, we watched the tape of the parade and couldn't believe how long it was! There 89 units participating this year. The turnout was terrific- more than a quarter million families lined the streets, bundled up, but cheering.
2 comments:
holy cold and long walk! Can't believe after all the hard work you did.. they still ripped you from your hot cocoa and put you back to work! You look cute with parker holding the sign though. What a day!!
Wow what a neat parade! Kudos for going out in such cold weather! I am too much of a wimp.
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