SPRINGFIELD – For over seven decades, the Springfield Christmas Parade has served as a holiday season kickoff for residents and visitors alike. Even rainy conditions couldn’t damper the glow of glittering floats, triumphant high school marching bands pumping up the crowd, and the Coca-Cola Bear waving and wiggling in a cherry-red truck.
The event’s theme was ‘Gingerbread Kisses and Christmas Wishes.’ Funds raised will benefit upholding Oregon Riders Society’s mission: “Every Child Deserves A Fighting Chance.”
ORS is comprised of motorcycle riders looking to make a positive impact on families in need while also coming together to ride. According to its website, ORS’ core values are respect, happiness, and loyalty.
Brenda Hughey, a co-parade organizer, described how the organization has paid electricity bills, purchased Christmas toys for children, and assembled turkey dinners.
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“We kind of get the immediate need started, whether it be clothes or food or whatever is needed,” Hughey said.
Rachel Oawson, a co-parade organizer, echoed Hughey’s sentiments.
“Throughout the following year, that money also goes towards kids who need Christmas (presents), who need school supplies, who need sports shoes, who may need a coat or new bedding.”
From cheering for family members poised on floats to seeing horses dance down Main Street,spectators voiced many reasons for braving the wintry conditions to feel festive.
Springfield native Brittany Quesada has attended the parade each year since childhood, continuing the tradition with her son, Braxton Quesada, who looked forward to the “candy and toys” featured in the parade.
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Sitting with mom, Brittney Hutchinson, Indigo Hutchinson of Springfield was most excited to “see Santa.”
Taiga Lancaster and Deana Lancaster of Walterville and Springfield were eager to see “the marching bands” and a loved one in the Thurston High School band.
The lineup included candy-colored cars revving their engines, pom-pom-wielding dance teams, and logging trucks, as well as the Girls Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Over 100 scouts participated in the event, sailing on two floats.
In an interview prior to the festivities, Bronwyn Williams, troop leader, and mom to Mairwen VonRussell, Girl Scout, expressed an appreciation for the role the parade plays in providing continued visibility for the Girls Scouts.
“I think the parade is a really good way of letting people know that we’re still here, especially after the pandemic,” Williams said. “Every scout troop does a different type of project. Unless people really know what scouting is about, I wouldn’t say that they recognize that we’re still doing our service projects, our Take Action projects for the community, and such. But if they realize that we’re still here, they might think that.”
According to the Girl Scouts website, Take Action projects “address an issue by tackling the factors that cause or contribute to it.”
The projects are completed with community members and are designed to have an ongoing impact.
This year, Brownie Patrol scouts assembled shoe boxes filled with travel-size toiletries for the unhoused. In addition to deodorant, mouthwash, and wipes, the boxes included gloves, scarves, hats, and a small snack or a thoughtful note.
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For last year’s Take Action project, the Brownies completed both a beach and park clean-up.
Along with service projects, VonRussell has enjoyed developing wilderness skills while camping and discovering new hobbies.
“I like Girl Scouts because we can learn stuff, like learn how to cook, learn how to sew,” VonRussell said.
Before this year, VonRussell had been to the parade twice, recanting memories of tossing out candy to attendees.
From Girl Scouts enthusiastically shouting, “Happy holidays!” on floats decked out in shamrock green to waving gingerbread men, live musical performances to BMX racers, the Springfield Christmas Parade has once again bridged holiday cheer and the importance of giving back.
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