On Sunday evening the rain let up for a few hours, a welcome change from the constant dreary weather we're experiencing. Such good timing for it was the Sidney Sparkle Parade! We joined the crowds lining the streets to watch the Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, colourful lighted vehicles, an Irish Dancing group, line-dancers, miniature ponies and more.
Some of the floats were very creatively decorated. The crowd waved and called out Merry Christmas in response to the same greeting from the riders on the floats. It all felt very festive and a wee bit cold.
There's something about marching bands that arouses emotion. I often feel tears prick my eyes when the music passes me and I see everyone playing together in stirring rhythm. I feel the same when I see vehicles pull over for emergency vehicles. Perhaps it's the pulling together part that affects me.
There was a double decker bus typical of our transit system. Smiling faces of children and families looked out from the windows.
Several old classic cars took part and this one had the Grinch at the wheel. He didn't seem too grouchy, and waved with a friendly hand at the crowd.
Here at home preparations are happening slowly but surely. Today I baked shortbread and chocolate cherry cookies. And made bread dough which is slowly rising in the fridge until tomorrow. The tree is up and in the evening we sit and enjoy the soft lights while we read. It is evocative of the following words from Thomas de Quincey:
"Surely everyone is aware of the divine pleasures which attend
a wintry fireside; candles at four o'clock, warm hearthrugs,
tea, shutters closed...whilst the wind and rain are
raging audibly without."
A very Christmas parade, here we have tractors all lit up usually lots of people out to see them. I'm not sure when that parade started here, it wasn't a regular thing when I was young. Lots of lovely biscuits being made in your house and a lovely toy for your grand daughter.
ReplyDeleteChristmas parade must be nice! We don’t have it here only Christmas markets. We may go to a Saint Lucie afternoon next Saturday with Swedish Carols in the Abbey and a procession with lights for Saint Lucie like in the northern counties. Swedish students in France will come from Paris.
ReplyDeleteI bet the Grinch tried to steal the parade! He can’t be trusted!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic parade. This looks like such a lot of fun. And lots of creative floats. I know what you mean about the bands!
ReplyDeleteSparkly is a great description of that parade, fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to get the season going. So festive and cheerful. Your own plans in the kitchen sounds cozy and yummy. Love the quote you used - it really fits the moments in this season.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful parade! That's a very lovely quote from Thomas de Quincey,
ReplyDeleteChristmas parades have never happened in any place that I have lived. Yours is the second I've read about. Considering what are temps are now I think a parade would be difficult to stand outside to watch.
ReplyDeleteColorful, looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteThat looks a lovely parade, I did enjoy seeing your photographs.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
What a charming parade!
ReplyDeleteLove the bands, the lights and the Grinch.
And your cosy evening at home sounds perfect.
That looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWind and rain have been raging audibly without here in our area today and food warnings are out for low lying areas as I'm sure you will have seen on the news. The Christmas parade that you enjoyed had better weather, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a very fun Christmas lights parade, Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun what with the decorative floats, dancers, a marching band, the crowd and a friendly Grinch 😀💜 And when it gets cold it's so lovely to go home to a cosy warmth. Thomas de Quincey says it very well.
ReplyDeleteThat is really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBjxxx,
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It has been a long time since I have been to a Christmas parade! Such fun! Love the quote that ended your post. I felt cozy just reading it . . .
ReplyDeleteOh, how lovely — these photos with all the lights! We have something quite different here, but it reminded me of our old village tradition. In medieval times the street lamps were lit by special lamplighters, and in my village we still celebrate that moment with a “lampengietersfeest” a lamplighter festival. It’s been done for centuries. You almost get tears in your eyes watching it. All the children walk with their mothers, dressed up, each carrying a little lantern — nowadays with electric light, but when I was young it was a real candle. And at the front there’s always a marching band. It’s such a cosy, magical evening.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your big winter celebration is totally new for me — we don’t have anything like that here — so thank you. I really enjoyed it!
The parade looks like such fun, with everyone all bundled up warm. I understand how it can be emotional to see, everyone brought together for fun and celebration. Love the quote, too.
ReplyDelete