Light Christmas: Thousands gather to view Parade of Lights

As the sun set Sunday evening, thousands bundled up and settled in along Broadway for Old Town Cape's 25th annual Parade of Lights.

The first to come huffing down the road were the joggers from the one-mile race to benefit the Cape Jaycees' Children's Toy Box.

Most of the runners wore some sort of costume for the occasion, from Elsa of "Frozen," to a Santa Claus and his jingle-belled elf helper and even a full-sized snowman.

Liah Ervin smiles as she walks with the St. James AME Church Sunday during the 25 Years of Lights on Parade in Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

The parade itself was led by a United States Marine Corps honor guard, whose partner float collected toys from attendees for its annual toy drive.

Nearly all the entries featured some sort of music, and this year's parade theme encouraged floats to be as bright and festive as possible.

Many entries did so, such as the Meadow Heights High School Marching Band, which even had glowing drums and drumsticks.

The Hutson's Fine Furniture float was one of several to feature a Christmas-caroling tableau.

A cheerful hobo clown clung to the back of the Cape Shriners' antique firetruck, flanked by three tiny buzzing clown cars.

Several other fire engines also were represented, but perhaps the most impressive were the ones made up to look like a pile of gifts and the search-and-rescue boat with a firefighter "water-skiing" on roller blades behind it.

Fruitland firefighter James Davis said those were his favorite floats, especially since he knew several of the people on them.

A child watches through a window Sunday at the 25 Years of Lights on Parade in Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

In a similar vein, Kim Kapp said her favorite float was the one featuring her co-workers from First General Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

This year's parade lineup was filled to capacity -- 100 entries.

Not all, however, were human, as shown by the Mississippi Mutts doggy hayride and the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center's forest display, complete with people costumed as woodland creatures, throwing candy.

The Alliance Bank float featured Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.

While most of the floats featured Christmas standards and singalongs, the Cape Roller Derby float went above and beyond. It featured a guitar-and-ukulele duo, with blinking Christmas lights woven into their beards singing "Run Run Rudolph" as the Roller Derby girls skated past dressed as a flurry of snowflakes.

Conner Smith, left, and Adam McCrite, right, with the Egyptian marching band hang out Sunday before the 25 Years of Lights on Parade in Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

And a prize for loudest entry likely would have gone to the crowd of revving motorcycles that rumbled past during the parade's middle. But group also seemed to be feeling the holiday spirit, with several sporting reindeer antlers and jingle bells attached to their helmets.

At one point, a troop's worth of Girl Scouts passed dressed like a crowd of gift boxes.

Not to be outdone, the next troop was decked out in yellow "Minion" costumes.

For many of the children watching, the candy and characters were worth the chilly weather.

Paden Anderson said he was having an especially good time, since it was his 10th birthday.

"It's Truck-A-Claus!" he yelled, pointing to the Cape La Croix bus as it passed by with a giant lit-up Santa hat on top.

But Anderson said his favorite float was the brightest of the bunch: the one with a blinding LED display flashing advertisements for the Show Me Center.

While others shielded their eyes, he followed it as it passed, gazing straight into the sign.

"That one," he said. "Definitely."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

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Parade winners

Best Theme: Trend Setters School

Best Business Appearance: Cape LaCroix Apartments

Best Nonprofit Appearance: New Life Missions

Best Music: Cape Girardeau Roller Derby

Best Lighting: Lawless Harley Davidson

Best Marching Band: Meadow Heights Band

ChairmanÂ’s Award: Cape Girardeau Fire Department

Honorary Judge Award: State of Missouri ChildrenÂ’s Division

- Source: Old Town Cape