'Lights, camera, Christmas'

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Herald photo by Andy Goodell/ Adults and children alike enjoy the Lighted Christmas Parade in downtown Oskaloosa. This year's theme is "Lights, Camera, Christmas."

December 4, 2009

By DUANE NOLLEN

OSKALOOSA — It was a crisp 29 degrees Thursday evening, but the spirit of Christmas warmed those who came to downtown Oskaloosa to watch the Oskaloosa Main Street Lighted Christmas Parade.

There were 65 parade entries — more than this past year’s parade, said Karen Hafner of the Oskaloosa Chamber & Development Group. There were seven or eight out-of-town floats in the parade, she added.

The weather was bad this past year, and some parade participants dropped out, Hafner said. However, she was pleased with the weather this year.

Hafner said a new entry for the parade this year was Santa and Mrs. Claus with their elf Jolly and Rudolph and Vixen in tow. They rode on the Mahaska Drug float.

While Santa prepared his sleigh on the float, Mrs. Claus took some time before the parade to talk about their visit to Oskaloosa.

Mrs. Claus said they came from 2 Jos’ Farm, near Van Horn. They keep four of Santa’s reindeer there during the off-season.

The farm is a rescue and retirement farm for animals, Mrs. Claus said.

“We do a lot of volunteer stuff,” she said. “We’ve been around for eight years.”

Mrs. Claus said the reindeer are very special.

“There’s not very many reindeer in the U.S.,” she said. The reindeer are registered with the state and at the federal level, and they are healthy and have their shots.

Many spectators lined the sidewalks in downtown Oskaloosa to watch the parade while others sat in local stores along the route or watched from their parked cars.

Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt said the weather wasn’t too bad and watched the parade from the sidewalk.

“This is probably my sixth parade,” he said.

Several years, he had kids involved with the parade marching with the Oskaloosa High School band.

Krutzfeldt said in past years, it was so cold that many of the band’s instruments would freeze up.

“It wasn’t much fun,” he said.

There are several things that the mayor likes about the parade.

“I always enjoy the band,” he said.

Krutzfeldt said he also likes the crowd’s enthusiasm, especially on Thursday nights.

He also likes the “surprises” such as brightly lit floats.

Lisa Gunsolley, of University Park, and her 10-year-old son, Colton, also watched the parade from the sidewalk. She said her husband is part of the Sheriff’s Posse and was working in the parade.

Gunsolley said she comes to the parade every year.

“It’s always great,” she said. The weather is never a factor for her. “It puts you in the Christmas spirit,” she added.

Gunsolley said her favorite part of the parade is seeing people she knows — business acquaintances.

Karen Adams, of Oskaloosa, also watched the parade from the sidewalk while her husband rode on the Bank Iowa float and her daughter marched in the Oskaloosa High School band.

Adams was pleased with the weather.

“It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be,” she said.

Adams said her favorite part of the parade is seeing the result of all the time and effort put into constructing the floats — especially sparkling lights.

Herald Editor Duane Nollen can be reached by email at oskynews@oskyherald.com