SANFORD
CHRISTMAS PARADE 2010
It was seven o'clock
p.m. The temperature was around 20 degrees. It was dark. It was cold. It
was the perfect time for the Sanford Christmas Parade. (Especially if it
was hosted by the Adams family.)
Why would anyone want
to have a parade in early December in the night time? For the last two
years the parade had been held on Sunday afternoons and the sun was shining
bright. This year, as with twenty plus years in times past, it was held
at night.
Some municipalities
have heavy lighting with enormous amounts of bulbs, poles and other items
to enhance the night time, but not so Sanford. Only a precious few street
lamps illuminate Steele Street to overshadow the fact that the sun had
long gone to bed for the night. There is a rumor that some merchants didn't
want the parade in the afternoon, even on Sunday, because the blocking
off of the streets could cause them to miss some sales activities. This
deserves a Sanford Quest Whaaaa-aa-a. But, I don't really think that is
the reason. I just don't know what it is. It is nearly impossible to video
the parade at night unless countless sun guns are set up around the area
and even still pictures suffer. We are not posting any photos of the parade
this year in Sanford Quest because our small strobe flash wouldn't even
light the kids huddled together under blankets along the sidewalk waiting
to see Santa Claus.
Does it sound like I'm
not happy with the way the parade is managed? Hell yes I'm not! I think
the least we could do is move the parade back a couple hours while the
sun is still shining or even back to Sunday afternoon. Definitely we need
warmer weather. I have noticed over the years that the evening is pleasant
right up until the day of the parade or, in all fairness, possibly the
day before and then it is like northern Alaska in January. Maybe that's
the idea. Making it feel like winter so that the feel of Christmas inspires
one to buy lot's of presents. Well, folks, take it from yours truly, you
can't "feel" much of anything when your fingers are numb.
It was, however, a fun
time for all that attended. Many folks that were waiting for the start
of the festivities at 6:45 had already left for home by 7:15. We do have
a local TV station that most likely will have a recorded broadcast of the
parade soon (once the DVD's and tapes thaw out).
Quaedan Nikkols
Sanford Quest Magazine
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