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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 27, 2004 City kicks off the holiday season By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Three-year-old Madison Read of Portland could barely contain her excitement as she jumped up and down on her foldable chair, waiting for the appearance of Santa Claus, as she started to sing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." Photos by Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings Bagpipers participate in Santa's Parade during the 12th annual Festival of Light. The parade started at the library and ended on the Plaza. "It's exciting," she said as she waited for Santa's Parade at the 12th annual Ashland Festival of Light and Grand Illumination downtown Friday evening. "He is riding on a fire truck." Madison and an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 spectators came to Ashland for an evening of holiday cheer. Both young and old alike lined the street for the parade, followed by all the Christmas lights in downtown turned on at once, illuminating the entire area. To keep warm from the cold, spectators were bundled in winter gear, blankets, or stopped off for some coffee at businesses throughout town. Holding a cup of coffee in her hand, Cally McKenzie of Central Point said it was a perfect way to enjoy the parade. "It's nice," she said. "It's cold and the coffee's hot. Everyone around here has the same idea." Before the parade began, Dana Welsh of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce made sure all the parade participants knew where to go as she tried to make things go as smoothly as possible. "It can get crazy," she said, "but it's all worth it when the lights go on. It's magical. It brings the community together." The parade had a number of memorable participants, including the Jefferson Pipe Band, the Cowardly Lion as grand marshal and several dogs from the Jackson County Animal Shelter. Wearing reindeer antlers, Santa hats, Christmas lights and signs that said "adopt me," the dogs received a lot of attention during the parade. Ingrid Edstrom, volunteer coordinator for the Jackson County Friends of the Animal Shelter said the dogs' appearance made people aware of the need to adopt them. She said last year, 12 dogs were adopted the day after the parade, and attributed the exposure in the parade to the adoptions. "It's good publicity and shows people what type of dogs we have," Edstrom said. Shelby Horeath, 9, of Talent, sang Christmas carols with her Girl Scout Troop in the parade, which was quite an experience, she said. "It was exciting," Horeath said. "When everyone started to sing along, that was cool." After the parade was over, everyone gathered on the Plaza and watched Santa and Mrs. Claus on the balcony of Alex's as all the downtown lights flickered to life. An excited Emma Peet, 6, asked her mom Carole Peet to lift her up so she could see Santa and all the lights. As all the lights lit up, Emma's face glowed with excitement. "It's even prettier over there," she said to her mom, as she pointed to all the lights up the street. Carole Peet said they came from Crescent City, Calif., to enjoy the parade and lights. "She gets all excited and enjoys the holidays," Peet said. "It's still magical for her." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams