SPRINGFIELD – Springfield’s Oldest & Coldest Christmas Parade embarked on its 73rd year last Saturday as downtown businesses opened their doors and folks set up camp on the sidewalks for a front-row view.
BOB WILLIAMS / CHRONICLE PHOTO
Oregon’s typical rainy winter weather held off for the day, and a few rays of sunshine slipped through the clouds. Parade participants took a while to snake their way from the Mohawk Blvd. starting point to the Main Street section, arriving close to 1:45 p.m. In the meantime, people took a gander through the downtown storefronts, ordered drinks from local restaurants, and even played a game or two of chess.
Eugene Police Officer Garrison King entertained his son while waiting for the action to start by giving him a feel for what it is like to ride on a police bike. According to other officers, little Brooks King has a bike of his own at home.
Brenda Hughey, president of Oregon Riders Society, which hosted the event, said the turnout was better than expected.
“It was crazy,” Hughey said. “The community just came out in droves. I’m sure it’s because the weather was amazing. We had a ton of people from 21st (Street) clear down to Main Street.”
Families dressed in festive wear and kiddos waited for candy to be tossed from floats. Some families, like the Martandales, matched in plaid. Others, like the Dayton family, went with a Christmas-green theme.
The Sanchez sisters were just looking to stay warm in their long-sleeved shirts.
Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon and city council president Michelle Webber followed behind the Oregon Rider’s Society’s opening sign, along with the police departments and the Lane County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse. Shortly after, Coca-Cola semitrucks and the branded polar bear cruised by.
Strike up the bands
Nearly 100 floats and marchers passed through the parade, including Springfield Utility Board, Cottage Grove Speedway, Willamalane Park and Recreation District (complete with the Willamalane Train and mascot Springs the Squirrel), local school marching bands, cheer and football teams, Springfield Drifters and Eugene Emeralds baseball teams, and Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) dressed as “Elk-hogs.”
ADON ECCLES / THE CHRONICLE
“Roseboro was our Grand Marshal, and their float was amazing,” Hughey said. “It was just beautiful.”
The Roseboro float matched the theme of “Enchanted snowman forest” and included Christmas trees, snowmen, and an artificial snow machine.
BOB WILLIAMS PHOTOS / THE CHRONICLE
Hughey also noted a special occasion for one parade participant.
“We had one guy who showed up in a car from Waypoint Car Club. He hadn’t been out of his house for a year and a half, but he found somebody who would take his old Nova – that would drive him down here,” Hughey explained.
Although the entry was last-minute, and the parade was bumper-to-bumper, they were able to squeeze him in.
“It was really cool because he hadn’t been out in so long, and it was a great day, and he wanted to come out, and he was blind on top of it, but he just wanted the experience.”
