Steven Bennett, who plays trumpet in Westmont High school's marching band, awaits the start of the Christmas Parade.

Grinch Foiled

Santa arrives in spite of beastly weather

By Shari Kaplan

Photographs by Paul Myers

The clouds were gray, the rain was falling and the wind was chilling, but the spectators were eager, the participants were smiling and the annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade was a splashing success--in spite of the inclement weather that tried to rain it out!


Connie Kim (left) watches the Fisher Middle School Marching Band pass by from inside Dolce Spazio during the Los Gatos Christmas Parade.




"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"--this motto of the Pony Express and later, the U.S. Postal Service, could well have been the rallying cry of the thousands of intrepid paraders and fans who cared more about tradition and community than they did about a little bit of water.


Brittany McIntyre, center, and fellow members of the Dartmouth Middle School Flag and ID Team are caught in the wind and rain before the start of the Parade.




And so, on a wet Dec. 1 morning, the curbs and benches along N. Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street were packed as usual. This time, however, along with the customary cameras and hot drinks, intrepid parade-watchers also brought along umbrellas--many of which blew inside out-- raincoats and even plastic garbage bags fashioned into makeshift ponchos.

Their determination was rewarded by a holiday spectacle that seems to outdo itself each year. Co-sponsored by the Los Gatos Lions Club and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation, the parade carried on for around two hours.


Darya Pilram, drum major for Westmont High School, leads the band in practice before the start of the parade.




It included decorated floats, cars and trucks; local dignitaries--including this year's Grand Marshall William "Bill" Frey, DDS; Boy and Girl Scout Troops, Indian Guides; 4-H Clubs; the Los Gatos High School football team; marching bands and colorguards from schools throughout Santa Clara Valley; bagpipe bands; baton twirlers; school clubs; equestrian groups; dog walkers--some of whom costumed their canines in the Christmas spirit; antique fire trucks and police motorcades.


Derek Tam, a member of the Los Gatos High School Football team catches a pass during the parade as a part of the team's float.




Among the more unique floats was Jury's Kick-Ass Ranchette from Gilroy with its marching donkeys, and one of C.B. Hannegan's temptingly smoking barbecue grills being towed by a truck-- a prelude to the traditional hot lunch the pub/restaurant cooks up following every parade. There also seemed to be more American flags than usual--no surprise, considering the rise in patriotism following the events of Sept. 11.

One thing that never changes about the parade, however, is Santa Claus. And although rain is not his chosen element, the jolly old elf was there again, bringing up the rear of the parade in all his holiday glory.

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