Celeste Casillas, 5 from Chino Hills waves to a passing boat Friday night December 23, 2011 during the annual Chino Hills Christmas Boat Parade. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
Photo Gallery: Chino Hills Christmas Boat Parade
CHINO HILLS - Most people are used to the typical holiday parade that include marching bands, floats and carolers.
But for more than two decades this city has been participating in holiday parade with a little twist.
Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chino Hills, about 5,000 parade-goers on Friday watched as boats decked out in an arrangement of holiday lights cruised down some of the city's main streets.
"When it originally went through just the neighborhoods I would take my daughter out to our front yard and we would watch them pass through the streets," said Leonora Olmos, who has participated in almost every parade.
"It's fun and different and it's about feeling the Christmas spirit of bringing people together."
The parade started about 20 years ago by a few residents wanting to spread some holiday cheer by decorating their boats.
And as the years went on it grew larger and larger, said Bill Taylor, coordinator of the parade and five-year member of the club.
"It's kind of kooky," Taylor said. "Even though we're landlocked we still like to have a good time."
For those who couldn't make it out to Friday's parade, or even for those to wanted to enjoy the show twice, the boats toured the city streets in what the Kiwanis
called the "neighborhood parade" on Thursday.Taylor said 17 boats participated on Thursday, while 60 did on Friday.
Friday's parade kicked off from Chino Hills Community Park traveled north on Peyton Drive, through Boys Republic Road, and finally exiting on Eucalyptus Avenue.
Just as the first boat by the Kiwanis Club turned the corner onto Boys Republic Drive the crowd started to clap and cheer.
"They're coming, look they're coming," said one spectator.
The boats may have come in different shapes and sizes but they all came spreading the holiday cheer with thousands of blinking lights.
Those in the boat threw candy and glowing bracelets out to the crowd and yelled "Merry Christmas."
Spotted on some of the boats were a quartet of saxophone players, the Grinch, a snowmen water skiing, the leg lamp from "A Christmas Story" and a number of trees.
Like any holiday parade, this parade wasn't complete without an appearance by Mr. Claus himself.
And for 6-year-old Stevie Escareno that was her main reason for attending the parade.
"I'm excited to see Santa on a boat," she said.
Students from various clubs at Ayala and Chino Hills High schools sold hot chocolate, cookies, and holiday desserts to parade spectators at "Parade Village" at Ayala High's parking lot.
Chino Valley Community Church hosted an after-party and some of the boats from the parade were also on display for the crowd to admire.
"It's really a chance for our city to come together in the holiday spirit and it's wonderful to feel that so close to Christmas," Taylor said.
Reach Canan via email, call her at 909-987-6397 ext. 425, or find her on Twitter @ChinoValleyNow.
Source: http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_19614397?source=rss
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