Sweet time at Orcutt parade
Nicholas Costello, 8, above, rides along with the Old Town Quilt Shop classic cars Saturday during the Orcutt Christmas Parade. The cars were among nearly 50 entries to participate in the parade. Members of the Green Machine Marching Band, below, from McKenzie Junior High School march later Saturday in the Guadalupe Christmas Parade. //Ian Gonzaga/StaffThe Orcutt Christmas parade Saturday afternoon was a little like Halloween.
Dogs were dressed as humans, humans costumed as reindeer and children disguised as presents.
And, of course, there was the candy.
Sugary treats were flung from most of the trucks, cars, motorcycles and floats that traveled West Clark Avenue in Old Town Orcutt, as well as being handed out by many people walking in the parade.
Children scurried into the street to retrieve the candy each time a handful of goodies landed nearby.
The annual parade kicked off around 1 p.m. at Broadway and West Clark Avenue, before heading down Twitchell Street and ending at May Grisham School on Pinal Street.
Close to 50 entries took part in the parade, an almost 50-year tradition. The parade was put on this year by Residents for Old Town Orcutt Preservation (ROTOP) and the Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association (OTORA), as well as other interested community members.
Spectators came prepared, armed with blankets, jackets, scarves and hot drinks.
George Pierce, an Orcutt Area Advisory Group member, was grand marshal.
The day was chilly and breezy; a sky full of clouds threatened rain but did not deliver.
Spectators came prepared, armed with blankets, jackets, scarves and hot drinks.
Among the groups that entered the parade was the Crusaders FC, a girl’s club soccer team from Orcutt.
Team members prepared cheers and dances to perform along the route.
Crusader Serena Nichols, 12, was excited as the team members made their way to the start of the parade route.
“I like Christmas. So, I’m happy,” she said.
Dogs, most which are available for adoption, were dressed up in such costumes as a Santa suit and a dress as they walked on leashes in the parade with volunteers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or rode on the group’s float.
“This is one way we know their temperament,” said volunteer Shannon Landers of putting the dogs in outfits.
Volunteers from the organization wore pink Santa hats.
The parade concluded with an appearance by Santa himself, sitting atop a Santa Barbara County Fire Department engine.
The Openshaw family did not have to go farther than their front lawn, which sits along Clark Avenue next to the parade route, to experience the festivities.
Karen Openshaw and family members sat in lawn chairs and covered up in blankets to watch the parade.
“At least it didn’t rain,” Openshaw said.
She said she likes the small size and quaintness of the Orcutt parade.
The parade, which Openshaw can remember lasting only 10 minutes, has grown bigger, she added.
Guadalupe also held its Christmas parade Saturday, themed “Peace, Love and Hope around the World.”
The parade took over Highway 1 from Sixth Street to Tenth Street starting around
6 p.m. Dorothy Oliveira, a longtime city resident who has been active in the community, was the grand marshal of the parade, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe. A downtown Christmas tree lighting followed the parade.
December 14, 2008