Holiday parade is an annual tradition for young and old
Even the grumpiest Grinch would have a hard time avoiding the spectacle that's become an annual tradition in the West Valley area for nearly 50 years--the Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade. Then again, why would anyone want to avoid one of the South Bay's oldest, biggest and most spirited parades of the holiday season?
With festively decorated floats and cars, Girl and Boy Scout troops, antique fire trucks, police motorcades, school marching bands, bagpipe bands, baton twirlers, gymnasts, animal clubs and many other organized and not-so-organized contingents, the parade offers something for everyone to enjoy. This year, it takes place on Dec. 2, and wends its way, as usual, from the intersection of N. Santa Cruz and Almendra avenues to W. Main Street, where it takes a left and proceeds across the Main Street Bridge and on to Los Gatos High School.
Cosponsored by the Los Gatos Lions Club and the Los Gatos- Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation, the parade begins at 11 a.m., but the regular viewers convening from Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell, San Jose and other locales stake their seating claims many hours before that. It's an example that first-time parade viewers would do well to follow.
This year's Grand Marshal is actually two people: longtime Los Gatans Bud and Nancy Christensen. Bud is the son of Deal Christensen, who cofounded the popular clothing store Chrislow's with friend Robert Whitlow. Begun in 1951 when Los Gatos' population was about 5,200, the W. Main Street store grew and changed with the times, but eventually closed its doors in 1993.
According to Bud, who began working at the store a year after it opened, Chrislow's offered more than 2,000 Los Gatos teenagers their first chance to earn a paycheck. The Christensens emphasized three values to the youths they hired: be reliable; be on time; and always smile. Besides employing local youths, the couple also donated to various local charities.
In addition to running Chrislow's, Bud has served on the Los Gatos Parking Commission and is a supporter of the Los Gatos Public Library. He also spent 12 years being a "spotter" for Los Gatos Weekly-Times columnist John Baggerly at Los Gatos High School football games.
Nancy is active in Los Gatos community and beyond, especially with the Committee on Homeless Women and Children, which is connected with the Los Gatos-Saratoga Branch of the American Association of University Women. She also is a volunteer and English instructor at the San Jose Family Shelter.
As befits a parade that ushers in the holiday season, Santa Claus will bring up the rear at the Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade.
--Shari Kaplan
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
