Santa quarterbacks Lowell festivities

LOWELL | Jumping up and down, 4-year-old Kristin Kiszenia waved her mittened hand at the floats as they passed by Friday.

"I like when they sing the Santa songs," said Kiszenia, of Lowell, as the St. Edwards Youth Group, atop a brightly lit float, began to sing Christmas carols.

With a cascade of stars lining the historical downtown district, the 11th annual Lowell Parade of Lights ushered in the holiday season -- and delivered Santa Claus -- to an estimated crowd of 500.

Pumped for their Class 4A state championship game at 2:30p.m. today at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium, members of the Lowell High School Red Devils football team were greeted by cheers from the crowd as the athletes rode by on firetrucks.

"It's cool," 10-year-old Michael Holt, of Lowell, said of his first visit to the parade as a gaily lit kiddie train from Jim's Repair in Cedar Lake wound past him.

Ben and Josie Stoner, of Lowell, were first timers, too, Friday. They brought 3-year-old Dustina to watch her brother Bryer, 7, ride in the parade with the Cub Scouts.

"I never realized how big it is," Josie Stoner said of the parade. Twenty-six entries, some with multiple units, made up the parade emceed by Don Holt and judged by Jayne Sullivan, Ben Ingram, Lynne Haberlin and Lisa Patton.

Three entries were the four-footed variety.

The colorfully lit Patriotic Ponies charmed the crowd as did a collection of canines from the Lowell Bark Park.

With the catchy rhythm of "Feliz Navidad" accompanying them, the popular horses of Mi Ranchito danced down the parade route in the skilled hands of their riders.

"The horses look so pretty," Kathy Chermak, of Lowell, said, adding that it was a great way to spend the evening. "I have my niece, my nephew, popcorn and hot chocolate," she said, smiling.

A special guest from Whoville led the parade, followed closely by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps in black and white and the Air Force JROTC in colorful lights.

Holiday Magic, which included a Candy Cane Hunt, the parade, the official lighting of the Lowell town Christmas tree, and visits with Santa, was sponsored by the parks department and the Lowell Chamber of Commerce.