Floats Parade Through Downtown in 24th Annual Christmas Event

The streets of downtown Redlands were filled with thousands of spectators all bundled up and sipping on hot chocolate as the 24th annual Redlands Christmas Parade drove into town. Spectators were entertained by dozens of festive floats, classic cars and local bands on Dec. 14 after the parade was rescheduled from its original Dec. 7 date due to rain the previous weekend. The rescheduling meant a slighter less attendance record than in previous years, said event co-chair Dave Ahers, but the event still saw thousands lined up to see the floats, cars and entertainment. "Given the circumstances, it was a great event," said event chair Micheal Kuhn. "We finished maybe an hour earlier than we usually do but overall it was a perfect night with plenty of people." The free event, this year themed "Christmas Around the World," began around 6 p.m. in downtown, beginning on Citrus Avenue near the Redlands Mall and ending on Eureka and West State streets. Acting as this year's Grand Marshal was local celebrity Marth Green, who helped bring together thousands this year for holiday cheer. The Kiwanis Club of Redland -Noon, planned and hosted the event as they have done since 1992. The parade event was first introduced to the community in 1988 by the city and was taken over by Larry Statler, who was then the chairman of the Easter Parade. The event's original parade committee was made up of five members, including Statler of Statler's Jewelers, Tom Nelson of the Bootery, Linda Johnson and Danny Bachiu of Redlands Blue Print, and Dean Strella of the Redlands Daily Facts, according to a news release issued by the Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Club began overseeing the event in 1992 and just a few years later led the event's switch from a daytime event to a nighttime affair, organizers said. "A big reason was the businesses, especially in the downtown area, where it's a busy time of year," said Kuhn, who has been on the committee for over 10 years. "We wanted to bring people to the city before the parade and have them shop around and then enjoy the parade." "I think people also enjoy it because of the lights on the floats and it's cooler," added Ahers, who has been on the event committee for over 18 years. "It makes it a little more festive," This year’s sponsors included: Burgeson’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Redlands Jewelers, Sunstate Equipment, Tom Bell Chevrolet, Community Bank, Jean Showalter State Farm Insurance, Hatfield Buick and GMC, the Inland Empire 66ers, the Sun Newspaper, Homan and Stone Attorneys, Redlands Community Hospital, First California Bank, Alta Vista Credit Union, Tartan of Redlands, Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant, Craig and Sons, Party Plus and On Trac Garage Doors. Longtime sponsors include The Daily Facts, Redlands Blueprint and Krikorian Theaters, organizers said. The committee also thanked the city of Redlands and the Redlands police and fire departments, among countless businesses and volunteers, for helping make the 24th annual parade a success. Overall, organizers shared that the event is special for many reasons. "The evening event, the lights, the cooler weather and the overall hometown feeling makes it special," said Ahers, who noted that organizers are always on the lookout for additional interesting pieces to add to the parade. Next year the community will celebrate the 25th annual Christmas parade. For Kuhn, the parade was just one of many factors that make Redlands great. "It's one of those unique parts of Redlands," Kuhn said. "We have the Bike Classic and the Run Through Redlands and this. What I've enjoyed since I moved here in 1995 was the sense of community. I always tell people it's the most Midwestern city in the western United States." [END] Redlands Christmas Parade Date: Saturday, December 14, 2013 Time: 6:00 p.m. Google Map Event Location: Address: Brookside Ave, at Eureka/Citrus Redlands CA 92373 Description: Start: Brookside @ Eureka/Citrus. Travels E on Citrus to 8th, then W on E. State St. to Orange; S on Orange to Citrus; W to Eureka & Brookside to end. This year’s Redlands Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, in downtown Redlands. Originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, the parade was rescheduled due to rain. The parade starts and ends near the Redlands Mall. It starts at 6 p.m. The parade will be televised live on Redlands TV, Channel 3. Now in its 22nd year, the parade is presented by the Kiwanis Club of Redlands — Noon. This year’s grand marshal is local restaurateur Martha Green. The theme is “Christmas Around the World.” For more information, visit Redlands-events.com. REDLANDS >> You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout I’m telling you why — the 24th annual Redlands Christmas Parade is coming to town on Dec. 7. Thousands of people will line the streets to watch the event unfold as dozens of floats, vintage vehicles and area bands help usher in the holidays with music, fun and more. Planned and orchestrated by the Kiwanis Club of Redlands, the annual event will begin around 6 p.m. in downtown and will make its way south on Orange Street to Citrus Avenue, then head west on Citrus before ending just outside the Redlands Mall on Eureka and State streets. Leading the parade will be this year’s grand marshal, area restauratuer Martha Green who learned of the news over cookies and coffee at her Eating Room in downtown. “I’ve narrated the Christmas Parade for the last 10 years on the corner watching everyone go by. And now I will be in the parade, and for the first time. It’s the nicest honor in the world to have bestowed on me,” Green said Wednesday. “It makes me feel like one of the most special people in Redlands. It’s a great honor. It’s very flattering.” The Redlands Christmas Parade was started by the city in 1988, but later found it could not sustain itself, said organizers. Larry Statler, then chairman of the city’s Easter Parade, and a few others took it upon themselves to continue planning the event. The original parade committee consisted of five members, including Statler of Statler’s Jewelers, Tom Nelson of the Bootery, Linda Johnson and Danny Bachiu of Redlands Blue Print and Dean Strella of the Redlands Daily Facts, organizers said. ============================ The Kiwanis Club of Redlands - Noon is seeking sponsorships and accepting entry applications for the 24th annual Redlands Christmas Parade ”Christmas Around the World” scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, December 7 in downtown Redlands. This parade, one of the few, if not the only, nighttime parades in the Inland Empire, is also part of the city’s 125th Christmas celebration. With local celebrity and cooking guru Martha Green as Grand Marshal, this citywide event will bring together thousands of people from throughout the Inland Empire for a fun and exciting celebration of the holidays. The parade committee is currently seeking entries of classic cars, sports teams, marching bands, floats, equestrians, scout troops, carolers, area dignitaries, or any other type of fun and creative entry that will help to spread the holiday spirit and create warm and wonderful memories for spectators. The entry fee is $20 for individuals and non-profit organizations and $30 for commercial entries. Please go to www.redlands-events.com/XMAS.htm to download and print the application. Please mail the completed application and entry fee to the Kiwanis Club of Redlands – Noon, PO Box 8427, Redlands, CA 92375. Checks should be made payable to the Kiwanis Club of Redlands. Entry applications must be received by November 20. Additionally, parade sponsors are needed to help make the Redlands Christmas Parade a successful event. With hundreds of participants, a dozen or more marching bands ands scores of brilliantly lit floats, sponsor logos at the head of the parade are sure to be noticed by the thousands of spectators lining the streets. Sponsorship levels range from $100-$1000 and must be received immediately to ensure that businesses are included in all areas of the chosen sponsorship. Businesses interested in being a parade sponsor may contact Dave Ahlers at (909) 792-4016. Parade participants and spectators should dress warm, arrive early and bring chairs and blankets as the best seats along the parade route fill up early. The parade will begin on Citrus Avenue, near the Redlands mall. Participants will travel east on Citrus to 8th Street, head north on 8th, then west on East State Street. From there, the parade will travel south on Orange Street back to Citrus Avenue, then head west on Citrus. The parade will end on Eureka and West State streets, just outside the Redlands Mall. For those unable to attend, the parade will also be televised on Time Warner Cable Channel 3 and Verizon Channel 35. A DVD of the parade will also be available for purchase. In 1988, the City of Redlands sponsored the community-wide event, but could not afford to continue to do so, so Larry Statler, then chairman of the Easter Parade, and a few others took it upon themselves to continue the festivities. The original parade committee consisted of five members, including Statler of Statler's Jewelers, Tom Nelson of the Bootery, Linda Johnson and Danny Bachiu of Redlands Blue Print and Dean Strella of the Redlands Daily Facts. In 1992 the Kiwanis Club of Redlands - Noon took over the management of the parade as a way to give back to the children of Redlands. In 1995, the previously daytime parade began running at night. Truly a community-wide event, it takes the cooperation of the Redlands Police and Fire Departments, the Redlands City Council, the Redlands Citizens Volunteer Patrol, Explorer Scouts and numerous other scouts to help the parade run smoothly each year. Long-time sponsors including the Redlands Daily Facts, Redlands Blueprint and Krikorian Theaters also help to make the parade a successful holiday festivity. This year’s sponsors also include Burgeson’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Redlands Jewelers, Sunstate Equipment, Tom Bell Chevrolet, Community Bank, Jean Showalter State Farm Insurance, Hatfield Buick and GMC, the Inland Empire 66ers, the Sun Newspaper, Homan and Stone Attorneys, Redlands Community Hospital, First California Bank, Alta Vista Credit Union, Tartan of Redlands, Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant, Craig and Sons, Party Plus and On Trac Garage Doors. Last year, an estimated 25,000 spectators lined the streets for the event, and countless others watched it on Redlands TV. The Kiwanians took over the parade in 1992 as a way to give back to area youngsters, and in 1995 changed the event from a daytime affair to night, they added. Organizers announced sponsorships and entries in late October starting at $20. Longtime sponsors include The Daily Facts, Redlands Blueprint and Krikorian Theaters, organizers said. The Dec. 7 event is free and open to the public. But for those unable to make it, the parade will air on Time Warner Cable Channel 3 and Verizon Channel 35. A DVD copy of the parade will be made available for the public after the event. To learn more, contact Dave Ahlers at 909-792-4016, or visit redlands-events.com.