Anticipation builds for parade
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Excitement is building as the time for El Campo's annual Carol of Lights Christmas Parade set for Thursday, Dec. 6 nears.

The theme of this year's El Campo Chamber of Commerce event is "Christmas Around the World" and while entrants are just beginning to sign up, it's expected to be a fantastic showing.

"I learned by lesson the first year. I panicked and thought 'Oh my God, nobody is going to be in the parade.' But now I've been there, done that," Chamber President Becca Socha said.

The parade typically has 75 to 80 entries - the largest topped out at 83. The deadline for entries is noon Monday, Dec. 3. The Chamber will still take some entries after that, but penalty fees will apply.

Parade participants are asked to start lining up on East West around 6 p.m. while soonto be watchers are encouraged to grab a lawnchair and find a good spot along the route.

Just before the start of the parade, Mayor Phillip Sprenrath will light the community Christmas tree in Evans Park

This year only the grand marshal award will be presented in advance.

This year's Grand Marshal is the 2006 El Campo Citizen of the Year Rita Radley.

All other entries will be judged as the pass by the Prairie Switch depot at Evans Park. This way, Socha said, judges can see entries completely lit up and performing.

Notifications of winners will be made via phone, announced on the radio and posted in the El Campo Leader-News.

Boy Scouts will light luminaries to mark the route just before the march begins. The first entry will be the flags of our nation, Socha said, adding "Please have respect when the flag passes. Stand up and put your hand over your heart. You'd be amazed how many people don't know that."

Starting at about 7 p.m., the parade will proceed up East Hillje, turn left on Washington, cross East Jackson (Business 59) and take a right onto East Monseratte in front of Evans Park.

The parade will then turn right on North Mechanic (Hwy. 71) and proceed to disbanding locations at West Webb (near Cellular One) and in the Lack's parking lot. Even-numbered entries disband on Webb, oddnumbered at Lack's.