'Tis the Season'

Thousands of people, young and young at heart, flanked the sidewalks of Main Street on Tuesday night armed with blankets, scarves and cups of hot chocolate.

For locals, these were the telltale signs of only one event - the annual Children's Christmas Parade.

The parade, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Porterville and the City of Porterville, carried a theme of "Memories of Christmas Past."

As families and friends stood under the brisk night sky anxiously awaiting the start of the parade, people grabbed their seats and snuggled in tight.

"It's all about Christmas. I love it," said Annie Clifford, who stood just south of Mill Avenue. "I like to see the floats."

And then, a few minutes after 7 p.m., everyone's wish was granted as the floats began to roll in.

The Porterville police and fire departments paved the way, followed by the color guard and Boy Scouts of America.

Thirty minutes into the parade, Clifford said she was not disappointed.

"I love the atmosphere. Everybody's in good spirits," Clifford said. "I liked the little twirlers. They were cute."

Clifford was referring to the Porterville Twirlerettes, who were 17th in line behind the Veteran's Homecoming Queen/Miss Porterville and Court.

The twirlerettes twisted and turned their way down Main Street as they performed with lighted batons and sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

"I thought this one was better than all of them," said 10-year-old Kylee Gutierrez, a twirlerette participating in her third parade. "I liked how we got to be in it and see what others were doing to get inspiration."

Nine floats later and Seventh-day Adventist Church came rolling down the road singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Here We Come ‘a Caroling."

Youngsters atop this float tossed artificial snow onto the street and dressed as if they were from the 1850s.

"I like it. It's not embarrassing," Zachary Paulson, 13, said. "I had a fun time. It's always fun."

Floats began at Morton Avenue and concluded at Olive Avenue.

Tony Rowlett, there with his wife and daughter, may have summed up the night's experience best.

"It's definitely a social event," Rowlett said. "You'll see people here during the parade that you won't see throughout the year."