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Sunnyside parade a holiday light show

By MARK MOREY
Yakima Herald-Republic

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ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republ

Sunnyside lighted parade Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009.

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Whether the entries had a few lights or thousands upon thousands, all the entries in the 21st annual Sunnyside Lighted Farm Implement Parade gave the Lower Valley community its chance to shine.

Teresa and Will Bron of Granger went with the minimalist approach, installing just enough lights on their double set of carriages to outline the horses' and the carriages.

Unlike the larger semis and tractors, the carriages can carry only a small generator strapped to the back axle to power the display. This was the fifth year that they had joined the parade.

Teresa Bron said it's a good way to kick off the holiday season.

"It's really fun," she said. "You get to see a lot of people you know."

Tom Girard had a more precarious perch. The Yakima Transit driver rode in a stand attached to the front of a passenger bus decorated in a Toyland theme. Dressed in a toy soldier costume made by fellow driver Sharon Anderson, his robot-like moves drew laughs from the crowd. Last year, he dressed as The Grinch.

"I've kind of become the official frontman," he said. "I enjoy doing it."

Wayne Linder, a mechanic for the city of Sunnyside, did the airbrush work for characters depicted in the city's Charlie Brown's Christmas entry.

He said the group of employees that contributed to the float already has next year's design selected. But it's a secret until then.

He said the parade is good for the entire Lower Valley, adding to the wineries and other attractions that draw visitors to Sunnyside and nearby communities.

Even if they only come for the parade, "hopefully they'll come back year after year," Linder said.

Don Schab of Benton City, who has entered the parade for six years, was one of several Santas. He rode on a decorated trailer pulled by a tractor dubbed Rudy, but other Santas walked or were pulled on water skis.

Schab, 59, has spent the past two years fighting cancer and recently underwent a related surgery, but he still wanted to participate, in part for the chance to see the smiles on children's faces as he passes by.

"I just enjoy doing it," he said.

And a large crowd lined the sidewalks for their own enjoyment.

Organizers estimate the crowd peaks above 20,000, with spectators standing and sitting along Sixth Street from Warehouse Avenue to Edison Avenue and down Edison to Yakima Valley Highway. Pam Turner, director of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, said the crowd appeared equal to last year's.

For the second year in a row, judges chose the float by Burrows Tractor of Union Gap as the overall sweepstakes winner.

The parade, which usually has between 50 and 55 entries, this year reached 59, Turner said.

"It was just a really great parade," Turner said.

 

Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.

 

And the winners are ...

 

Animal-drawn entries

First place, Alder Creek Pioneer Association

Second place, Broken Spur

 

Old farm equipment

First place, KT Cattle Co.

Second place, Larry Oswalt

Third place, Prins Dairy

 

Antique car and truck

First place, Doug Pool

Second place, Valley Hills Funeral Home

Third place, Dennis and Diana Blumer

 

Non-commercial organization

First place, Critter Cab/Manning Dog Training

Second place, Sunnyside Fire Department

Third place, People for People

 

Non-commercial Christmas entry

First place, Sunnyside Cinco de Mayo royalty

Second place, Santa's Vacation

Third place, Prosser Community Float

 

Commercial Christmas entry

First place, unavailable

Second place, Granite Northwest

Third place, Yakima Transit

 

Modern farm equipment

First place, city of Sunnyside

Second place, Erv Kilian

Third place, Schab Farms

 

Commercial farm equipment

First place, Oasis Drilling

Second place, Les Schwab of Sunnyside

Third place, Elite Towing

 

Youth

First place, Panda Bear Childcare and Learning Center, Sunnyside

Third place, Sunnyside Christian FFA

 

 

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