Christmas parade lights up the night in downtown Yakima

A helicopter, a Ford Mustang, a Yakima Transit bus -- they're all ways that Santa could consider delivering presents during this Christmas season.

But he might be better off sticking with the traditional sleigh and reindeer, if the Downtown Yakima Christmas Light Parade offers any guidance on the subject.

A quick check with an expert revealed that the helicopter lacked a few attributes needed for racing around the globe in a night, not to mention zooming up and down chimneys from house to house.

"He would probably be slower in a helicopter. It doesn't have as much room. It's a little on the small side," said Mike Sutton, an instructor at the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center.

About 10 of his aviation technology students rigged the Rotorway experimental craft with lights before loading it onto a trailer for the parade as part of their leadership class.

The Mustang -- bearing Washington license Santa1 -- didn't have much room, either, and it might get kind of cold in the convertible.

The bus, meanwhile, had the Grinch on board. Talk about wrecking the Christmas spirit. (The parade judges didn't mind, granting the bus an award for best lighting.)

The parade, which was started nine years ago, drew hundreds downtown Sunday evening. They lined Yakima Avenue from Sixth Avenue to Third Street to watch more than 60 entries make their way to Millennium Plaza.

The choir from Stone Church entertained the crowd with a few songs before the tree-lighting ceremony, which capped the festivities.

Sutton, the YV-Tech instructor, said producing the parade entry provides his students a chance to give back to the community where they live.

For Santa and Mrs. Claus -- also known as Larry and Martha Jaquins of Yakima -- the parade is an extension of their work as Santa's helpers. They dress up for Salvation Army bell-ringing, and joined the parade four years ago at the request of downtown businessman Joe Mann.

It's not just a Christmas thing.

Santa passes out candy canes when he's wheeling around in the summer off-season in Santa1 or the pickup known as Santa2, his wife said.

"It's like living with Santa year-round," she said.

For their efforts, the couple was awarded the parade's Santa and Mrs. Claus award.

"We have a great time," Mrs. Claus said in a pre-parade interview.

The other winners were the G.S. Long entry as the mayor's choice, Burrows Tractor Co. as the best corporate entry, the Moxee Hop Festival as the best small group, Yakima Parks and Recreation as the most original, the Boy Scouts as the kids' choice and Valley Manufactured Home as the parade committee's choice.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.