Big crowd expected at Visalia parade

Many viewers snatch seating early for Candy Cane Lane Parade.

Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

The 63rd annual Candy Cane Lane Parade will be held Monday night in Visalia, extending a tradition that both marks the beginning of the Christmas season and defines the community.

"It's small town Americana," said retired police chief Bruce McDermott. "The enthusiasm is as strong at the beginning of the parade as the end."

The parade starts at 7 p.m. in downtown Visalia. Veteran parade watchers place their chairs in select spots hours before the start.

Exactly how many people will line Main Street to watch is a matter of debate -- some say 15,000, some say 30,000 or even more -- but there's little doubt that it's a tight squeeze for most of the 12 blocks of the parade.

The parade seems to be drawing more people every year, say those in the know.

"Having ridden in the parade for eight years, to see the crowds grow" has been an eye-opener, said Visalia City Council Member Bob Link. "Now there's people all the way to the end."

New this year before the parade will be a Mayor's Bike Race at 6 p.m. to publicize the Amgen Tour of California, a Tour-de-France style race that will come to Visalia on Feb. 19. Four Visalia council members will conduct a relay-style bike race on Main Street, competing against teams from other cities in Tulare County.

The parade is expected to have 107 entries this year, said organizer Elaine Martell at Downtown Visalians, which sponsors the event. That includes floats, marching bands and the little cars driven by Shriners.

The theme is "A Child's Christmas Fantasy." The Optimist Club will judge floats on appearance and how closely they adhere to the theme. As always, the Lion's Club directs the parade.

The Visalia Police Department will do the honor guard, and KFSN (Channel 30) will tape the parade to air the following weekend.

Bill and Jane Nash of Visalia will serve as parade Grand Marshals. Bill Nash is a volunteer teacher in the Adult Literacy Program at the Tulare County Library. Jane Nash has been active in Visalia Heritage Inc., a nonprofit group that published two well-received books on Visalia history: "Visalia's Heritage: Buildings, People and History," on significant or architecturally interesting homes in Visalia, and "Visalia: A Pictorial History 1850-1950." The group raises money for historical preservation.