Photographs by Ryan Gutenkunst
Update: Photographs by Don Abel are available for viewing online.
The 52nd annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holidays Parade went off without a hitch under clear blue skies Saturday. The streets were lined with thousands of onlookers, as usual, and they were not disappointed.
The parade is sponsored by LGS Recreation, the Los Gatos Lions Club, and the Los Gatos Christmas Foundation. Parade Operations are led by chairman Reed Graham and coordinator Michelle Varno, supported by LGS Recreation, the Lions Club, the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department, and the Town of Los Gatos Parks and Public Works department.
This year's Grand Marshal, Dick Sparrer, editor of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times
The parade began with the Youth Citizens of the Year: Giulianne Pate, Danny Davis, Brandy Pech, Derek Nilsen, Robert Streeter, Alyssa Micciche, and Casey Larson in Town Clerk Jackie Rose's 1963 Lincoln convertible. They were followed by Boy Scout Troop 539 and Grand Marshal Dick Sparrer, the Los Gatos High School Band, Mayor Mike Wasserman and the town council: Vice Mayor Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski, Barbara Spector, and councilmember-elect Steve Rice.
Second-time Mayor Mike Wasserman and his wife Kim broke with tradition and walked ahead of their ceremonial car, a wood-sided Cadillac
Other dignitaries honored include Los Gatos Christmas Foundation President Carol Musser, Lions Club President Roger Mason, Richard Whitmore of the LGS Recreation Governing Board, and Los Gatos Community Foundation President Jan Morris. Lame duck County Supervisor Don Gage did not make an appearance this year.
The essence of the Holiday Parade: Lions Club member Carol Musser, who publishes the glossy parade program, rides in an antique Lincoln surrounded by children as president of the Los Gatos Christmas Foundation
Crowd favorites--new and old--were on hand, including the outrageous Stanford Marching Band, sponsored by Jo's North End Restaurant, and the Cucuzza Squash Drill Team. BMX athlete Ryan Nyquist performed his amazing bicycle stunts, including a mid-air flip, for Jiffy Market. The Los Gatos Morning Rotary created a realistic 40-foot lobster float to highlight their annual Claws for a Cause fundraiser, coming up in September.
Ryan Nyquist, some 20 feet in the air, for Jiffy Market
The horse entries were grouped near the end of the parade, but the 9 marching bands were interspersed throughout the order of march. Following tradition--how could they not?--Santa Claus, sponsored by the Optimist Club of Los Gatos, provided the parade's triumphant conclusion, just over two hours after the parade began at 11 a.m. There were a total of 266 entries this year.
The Italian Gardener's Association Cucuzza Squash Drill Team, the highlight of the parade for many.
The unorthodox Stanford Marching Band, presented by Jo's North End Restaurant
![YMCA Adventure Guides [Photograph by Evan Ducharme]](http://losgatosobserver.com/los-gatos/article-images/2008/12/parade21.jpg)
YMCA Adventure Guides [Photograph by Evan DuCharme]
Peter Carter of the Los Gatos Social Club accompanies Councilmember Barbara Spector as members of the Los Gatos Vesparadoes. Teri Hope, owner of the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, rode her mocha-colored Vespa
Members of the Dartmouth Middle School Marching Band
A tribute to the Christmas Tree Farms of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Giddy Up Gals
Los Gatos High School Band. Many wore "52" to honor Michael Halpin.
Frank and Marilyn Dorsa of Lark Avenue Classic Car Wash
The parade was led by the whistle-blowers, the Youth Citizens of the Year: Giulianne Pate, Danny Davis, Brandy Pech, Derek Nilsen, Robert Streeter, Alyssa Micciche, and Casey Larson
Los Gatos Rotary Club President Elizabeth Cilker Smith
Cacelia Haentiens
![YMCA Adventure Guides [Photograph by Evan Ducharme]](http://losgatosobserver.com/los-gatos/article-images/2008/12/parade22.jpg)
YMCA Adventure Guides [Photograph by Evan DuCharme]
Los Gatos Community Foundation Executive Director Sharon Childs points to the town Christmas tree that the foundation re-decorated this year with energy-saving LED lights
Santa Claws: The "cool cats" of the Los Gatos Morning Rotary--President Dan Lawson (right) and Tim Lundell--marched beside a huge lobster, representing their annual Claws for a Cause fundraiser, as the Los Gatos High School Jazz Purr vocal group, led by Morning Rotarian Diana Pleasant, sang.
Rascal, the World's Ugliest Dog
BMX athlete Ryan Nyquist performs a midair loop
Santa Claus, presented by the Optimist Club of Los Gatos, traditionally ends the parade
Wonderful pics - I'll post a link to this article on my blog.
Once again your pictures give a great log of the day.
Thanks
The pictures are really awesome. It helps to relive what a great parade this year was. It was the BEST!
Hey, why no picture of the winning float by Los Gatos Roofing on your website? I live out of town and couldn't attend the parade but I heard that the float was great!
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