By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It was a night of lights, music and a return to days gone by as the city of Del Rio presented its annual Christmas Parade Friday night.
Hundreds of people lined South Main Street, some gathering as early as 4:30 p.m. for the scheduled 6:30 start time.
With nearly 60 entries, and almost 100 vehicles, organizations, bands and more taking part, this year’s parade, featuring a 1950’s theme, was the largest in the city’s history of the annual nighttime event.
A trio of judges evaluated each entry on a variety of factors including creativity, appearance, originality and theme. Walking entries and floats were also eligible for awards in their respective categories.
Award winners were revealed at nearby Greenwood Park.
Taking top honors overall was the entry featuring the Queen City Belles. Del Rio High School’s historic drill team dressed in white and red holiday outfits, complete with their trademark petticoats, and accentuated with translucent wings. It added to their performance to classic rock sings such as Little Richard’s “Tutti Fruitti.”
Meanwhile on the Belles’ float, a homemade snack bar was lit up with flashing lights, a classic milkshake made out of lights, Santa’s sleigh, a dancing Marilyn Monroe and an Elvis Presley impersonator among other features, all parked at a replica of Del Rio’s former drive-in theater, the Gay 90 which was located off US Highway 90.
The entry took home the Mayor’s Choice Award as well as the Christmas At the Hop First Place award. Belles sponsor Kayla Rodriguez said the group took two days to come up with their entry and that they immediately started working on it beginning Tuesday.
The Christmas At The Hop Second Place award went to the entry from Miss Val Verde Texas USA Pageant. Covered in lights and glamour, the float helped show that this year’s entries were pulling out all the stops when it came to wowing the crowds and the judges.
The Christmas At The Hop Third Place award went to the Miss Val Verde Pageantry System. The pageant award winners on the float were clad in vintage dresses including a replica of the famous black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
The Best Overall Children’s Entry, for youth 12 years and younger, was presented to the Buena Vista Elementary Student Council. Dressed in poodle skirts, leather jackets and other fashions from the 50’s, the group of young people danced, skipped and smiled through most of the parade route.
The Holiday Spirit Award/Best Live Performance for cheer, dance, matachine or other entries, went to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The group, celebrating La Virgen de Guadalupe, was clad in traditional clothing as they told the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how she appeared before Juan Diego and his uncle Juan Bernardino.
The Drummer Boy Award, presented to the best band, went to the Del Rio Middle School Concert Band. It was a banner day for the school’s band as the middle school’s Symphonic Band was presented the Merry and Bright Walking Unit Award for most lights on a walking unit.
Hope City Church won the Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Award, which was presented to the float with the best holiday music vocal or band. Featuring former members of the rockabilly group the Mooncaps, the float brought energetic performances of classic rock hits like “Run, Run Rudolph,” to life and had people, like Mayor Bruno Lozano, dancing in the street.
The Merry and Bright Float Award went to the Brown Plaza Queens Court. The award went to the entry with the most lights on the float or a motorized vehicle.
Many of the parade goers made the short walk to Greenwood Park for the official lighting of the tree at the park. Along with the lighting were performances by the San Felipe Del Rio CISD’s All-District Choir and the school district’s high school choir as well as a bevy of food and arts and craft vendors.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
