Santa, motorcycles, balloons, enchant parade-watchers
Miss Tsa-Ya-Toh Bear Clan Pow Wow Princess Allie Joe looks out from her float at the start of the Comcast Parade of Balloons on Coal Avenue Saturday, Dec. 6. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Lamonzo Dennison and other cadets from the district 7 McKinley West Fire Department dressed as reindeer for the Comcast Parade of Balloons along Coal Avenue Saturday, Dec. 6. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — Santa Claus, fire trucks, motorcyclists, and candy were the top favorites of children who watched Gallup’s annual Christmas Parade on Saturday.

A large crowd gathered along Aztec and Coal avenues to watch the lengthy parade under unusually warm and sunny December skies. More than 50 entrants — from tiny powwow princesses and preschool groups to huge flat bed trailers and cement trucks — participated this year.

And as is custom each year, a number of visiting balloonists added their hot air balloon baskets and chase crew vehicles into the usual Gallup parade mix. Even the Catholic sisters of the Little Sisters of the Poor joined the holiday fun this year, reminding parade goers they’ve had a ministry to the aged in Gallup for 25 years.

But the kid favorites seemed to be Santa, firemen, motorcyclists, and candy — but not necessarily in that order.

Amber Johnson, 10, a student at Jefferson Elementary, and Dionna Smith, 8, a student at St. Michael Indian School, said the tossed candy was their favorite part of the parade. But Santa Claus ran a close second for both girls.
“I liked a lot of stuff,” said Katie Cox, 7, a visiting home-schooled student from Salem, Ore. Katie’s top favorities were the candy and the fire trucks.

Aidan Ashe, 6, of Kirtland, liked the very loud group of motorcyclists and the Gallup McKinley County School Bus that was bound for the North Pole, while little brother Nathan, 4, liked the candy the best.

The fire trucks and Santa were the favorite of Antonio Molina, 8, a student at Roosevelt Elementary. Younger brother Josiah, 5, liked “the guys in black” — the motorcyclists — the fire trucks, and the candy. But as fun as the parade was, Josiah said he had other things on his mind. Saturday was his birthday, and as soon as the parade was over, he and his family were going to celebrate.