Spirit shows at ag parade

Attendees ring in holiday season

MOSES LAKE — Even the Grinch turned up in a sleigh to kick off the holiday season.

The cold didn't appear to keep many people away from downtown Moses Lake and the 11th annual Agricultural Appreciation Lighted Christmas Parade Friday evening.

"It looks like it's wonderful," said Sally Goodwin, executive director of the Moses Lake Business Association, which sponsored the parade with RE/MAX Home Team Realty. "Everybody's enjoying marshmallows, hot dogs and Santa is doing his thing wonderfully." Michael's on the Lake donated food for the celebration.

Goodwin was wearing a lighted Christmas tree hat, which seemed to be all the rage during the festivities.

Small children and big kids alike waved at the floats as they passed by, sometimes receiving candy canes or bags of coffee for their enthusiasm.

Sonia and Elgin Elledge had prime seating outside their van, parked at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Cedar Street, to watch entries begin to move. They'd been to the parade years ago, but it was the first time for their 12-year-old son, Curtis, who was participating in a 4-H float.

"We haven't been to it for quite a while, because I was working," Sonia said. "This is (Curtis') first time of actually being in the parade with the 4-H, so it's a whole new exciting thing to come and see."

Elgin said his family likes to come and see the fire trucks at the end of the parade, as well as the tractors.

"You get to see a lot of tractors you don't get to see any more," he said. "That's kind of interesting."

Tram Johnson was a participant in last year's parade with a lighted tractor, earning second place for older farm equipment entries, but was watching with the Elledges this year while his wife participated in the parade. He comes back each year, he said.

"What keeps me coming back? The old tractors, the people and it's a good time for everybody to get together just before Christmas," he said. "Kinda like get the Christmas cheer as soon as possible. It's exciting, it's cold, but it's time to get everybody together and get in the Christmas cheer a little bit."

Bob Maas was in attendance with his girlfriend, Sue Ring, and while he had been before, it was her first time.

"It's really nice," Ring said. "The people and getting into the spirit of Christmas."

Isis Sanura, 19 months, sat atop mother Sherri Graham's shoulders and waved at the passing floats. It was Graham's first time at the Christmas parade as well.

"I like to bring her because she likes the lights and everything," Graham explained.

Mike Davenport and wife Ilene, in attendance with Roxie and Danny McAtee, said they had moved back to Moses Lake in February from Anacortes. Mike graduated from Moses Lake High School.

"I love it, the whole atmosphere," Mike said.

"It's fun and the spirit's here," Roxie McAtee said.

Rocky and Janet Terry were in attendance with their children, Emma and Griffin.

"I think it's very interesting," Janet Terry said. "It's unusual to have lights on tractors, so I think it's really fun."