I see that the local small towns and larger cities are starting to decorate the light posts with Christmas lights, they are painting the local business windows and decorating the interior of the windows to show they are preparing for the season...I think that looks nice and makes things look old fashioned...I enjoy seeing that!
I see homes that are decorating their front yards and their homes outside with all kinds of cheerful decorating ideas....looks nice.
Here, very soon they will be having the local town/city parades....I know that it takes a lot of preparing and good organization skills to conduct a parade correctly...It also takes hours of time to create the floats, plan the parade totally!.....I have always enjoyed helping out with the parades in our local small town...we had a float to work on at church, very much fun, BUT a lot of time to donate to help out with the float and decorating it, planning it.....
I even participated on the floats with others--dressed in Christmas costume, several times creating characters to throw wrapped candies to children and the adults!....it was nice...sometimes the weather is weird here and maybe 80 degrees while on the float, in itchy costumes and you can become very warm!...lol....surrounded by fake snow and Christmas decorations & trees.....that's Oklahoma weather for ya!
I think parades are fun. ;)
Really, I enjoy the parades to be in late evening into the winter dark hours so ALL of the lights show up, and I know some cities & towns have their parades later like that, BUT I also know that having parades in later darker evening hours can cause danger to children & adults when they cannot see in the darker hours, so who knows...but it would be fun for winter parades....
Purchasing decorations and sparkles, glitters, colorful hued items, Christmas items, you can pre-plan that and money can be donated by townspeople & business to help to create the parades & floats...local churches & organizations or businesses may enjoy creating their own floats to celebrate!
REMEMBER parades take a lot of donated work hours and many, many people all helping out that way, and donated dollars, vehicles....
Having hot chocolate & apple cider there for purchase or for free before the parade is a nice way to enjoy the parades.....foam cups are just fine to use for those! someone can make very sure this is warm, clean, and maybe setting interior of a business there on the main street....
Police Departments & Fire-Rescue teams have always participated and driven during the parades, these are always wholesome entertainment for everyone with the antique nice vehicles in proper working condition cars driven through, the horse drawn buggies decorated nicely, Atvs driven through, horse carriage rides......smile & wave to the crowds and throw some candy!.....haha!....just whatever you can think of that is safe & respectful to everyone....
sometimes, they have had to use sound systems for the parade as a whole, so everyone can hear it everywhere on the main street.....just something else fun to see & watch.....
Local bands may perform with instruments or just local entertainers may play and ride in carriages.....One time I was on a float with the church, and they played instrumental Christmas songs and we sang some of them....it was fun!.....singing and driving down the main street in the parade on a decorated trailer!...haha! it was sleeting that time..Brr!
It takes a lot of pre-planning and discussion before the parade is created & the floats are constructed.....everyone needs to be informative, kind, nice, respectful to all ideas and everyone should be invited to attend and take part in the floats & parade as a whole for the holidays.....
Raffles can be created and names written on small paper cards drawn from colorfully decorated closed in boxes to WIN prizes great or small depending on how much money can be pooled to purchase Raffle prizes....sometimes they are for money, food from local restaurants, gift certificates, fuel receipts for free fuel, all kinds of items....whatever you can think of....
pet costume contests have sometimes been before the parades and every pet should be a winner and be gifted a chewy or toys, or a nice winning ribbon/bow....lol...cute!..monitor them at all times...best for dogs on leashes & collars, cats leave at home...you know how they are!...lol...
Humans may even wish to have Christmas costume contests before the parade, where you dress as Santa or Mrs.Santa..this would be cute for couples also!.....silly!.....everyone is a winner as you know!....haha....
I think when you celebrate a holiday season, parades are something for everyone in towns/cities to take part in, look forward to, be jolly at, and I always think that floats need to reflect the character of the business or people who create it, and keep it themed for the holiday you are celebrating, make it whimsical, sparkled, and creative!....
very tired. just thinking about local Christmas parades, blog.
oh! and you need people who can drive properly to volunteer to be drivers in the parades and pull the trailer, carriages, wagons, and floats on the trailers.....drive safely always! drive slooooooowly......lol
j.
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