Onlookers of all ages lined the streets of downtown last Saturday, in preparation for the annual Bend Christmas Parade.
Starting at noon and lasting for over an hour, the parade’s theme this year was, “Best Christmas Ever.” Businesses, schools, organizations, locals and dogs all came together to celebrate the holiday season.
“I love to see Santa and the Grinch,” said attendee Sheila Shelton, 56.
Shelton thinks the parade is a great way to kick off the Christmas season. Joined by her two dogs Harley and Hayden, Shelton loves to come to the parade each year and give back to the community.
Some highlights of the parade included musical performances by Bend, Mountain View, and Summit High School, local celebrity Mary Barackman (known as the “Little Caesers Lady”) and at the end a grand appearance by Santa Claus himself.
Wall St. lined with people on both sides waiting for the parade to start, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Wall St. lined with people on both sides waiting for the parade to start, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Local residents walking their pets with them, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Local residents walking their pets with them, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)The parade begins at noon, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Mountain View High School JROTC leads the way, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Grand Marshall Peggy Carey making her entrance in the parade, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Bend High School Band marches and performs music, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Bend High School Band marches and performs music, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Local resident Sheila Shelton, 56, with her two dogs (from left) Harley and Hayden, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)A group of riders and their horses pass through, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Group of kids ride past, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Young boy sitting in John Deere tractor, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Lumberjack on parade float cuts wood, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)ATV disguised as Rudolph passes through, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Unicyclist rides down Wall St., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Mary Barackman waves as she passes the crowds, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Group of kids dressedd as Christmas presents walk down Wall St., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Mountain View High School Band performs live musical numbers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Onlookers of the parade from the Tower Theater, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)Santa rides down Wall St. and greets the people of Bend, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 (For The Broadside/Luke Reynolds)
Luke Reynolds is a student at Central Oregon Community College. Reach him at lreynolds2@cocc.edu. This story was produced as part of Publications Lab, a COCC course, and not by staff of The Broadside, an independent, student-run news organization located on the COCC campus.
