“Merry Christmas!”
That happy greeting throughout the “23rd Annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights & Snow Festival” on Dec. 7 brightened the season for several thousand people.
With more than 100 lighted entries, the hometown parade down west Alpine Boulevard was the longest, brightest one ever. The Snow Festival was a mix of relaxed entertainment, free snow sledding, dining and holiday shopping.
“Thank you everyone who came out to enjoy this wonderful event!” Alex Ward, Executive Director of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, said later. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our sponsors, volunteers, and of course, our guests!”
The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber presents the holiday extravaganza every year with the help of many Chamber members, sponsors, businesses, organizations and individuals.
Major sponsors this year were the Alpine Creek Town Center; Barons Market Alpine; Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.; San Diego Gas & Electric and Alpine Urgent Medicine/California Mobile Physicians and Waste Management.
Children, families and visitors from around San Diego County enjoyed the shining parade and the Snow Festival in the Alpine Creek Town Center at 1347 Tavern Road.
“We love that there are more people entered in the parade,” said Marsha Do of Alpine. “Everybody really went all out this year.”
Shining floats of all kinds, vehicles ablaze with lights and walking, dancing and gymnastic units that glowed brightened the boulevard.
A big bulldozer with a red, white and blue flag made up of colored lights was a perfect backdrop for the traditional color guard from Alpine’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Bert Fuller Post 9578.
At the Snow Festival, carols professionally performed by the Alpine Christian Fellowship, organized by Brenden Prout, were an inspiration.
While Santa Claus chatted with children, Mrs. Claus handed out free cookies at the Alpine Community Center booth. There were also other children’s activities.
Vendors offered unique gift possibilities while restaurants and stores in the Alpine Creek Town Center enjoyed a business boost.
Posing for free selfies with Rorie, the Alpine Historical Society’s well-known fiberglass gorilla, brought in donations for the local historical museum.
U.S. Border Patrol agents and Explorers carefully placed tots and older youngsters or the young in heart on sleds for endless free rides down the white, chilly Snow Hill.
“It’s going very well,” said Agent Jonathan Munoz. “A little tiring, but well.”