With their usual witty and charming banter, Masters of Ceremony, David Pierce and Ray Foster, introduced every parade entrant and provided sparkling commentary on each passing float, band, drill team, marcher, dancer and banner bearer who participated. The city’s DARE vehicle, Humble Police and Emergency Vehicles blasted their sirens and flashed their lights, adding to the festive winter air. A snow machine blew simulated snow that swirled and floated around the judges reviewing stand, adding to the Holiday spirit.

The appointed panel of parade judges, Janie Dampier, Sally Demase and Bonnie Gardner, clad in layers of clothes, warm mittens and woolen scarves, braved the low 30 degree temperatures to view each parade entrant from the judging stand located in front of Uptown Park. The parade entrants were judged on use of lighting, parade theme adherence and over-all presentation. The winners of the parade are forthcoming. Parade theme banner bearers, the Humble High School Marching Band, the Humble High School Wildcatdet Drill Team and the Honor Guard from Humble High School JROTC, led the parade and were immediately followed by Parade Grand Marshall, Sonny Robbins and Mayor Donnie McMannes with his wife, Georgia.

Participants in the parade, in addition to those mentioned above, included Centerpoint Energy, Century Link, Red Door Realty, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, Christian Brothers Automotive, Community Performing Arts Center, Northeast Fire and Rescue, Texan Buick GMC, HISD Guy Sconzo & Board, Supercuts, Tejas Toyota, Humble Area CERT, Harris County Citizen Corp., Humble Rodeo and BBQ Cook-off, First United Methodist Church, Dr. Garcia from NE Pediatric, Cody Pogue for Texas Legislature, various local Cub, Boy, Girl and Daisy Scout Troops, Texas Heatwave Soccer Club, Atascocita HS Best Buddies and FFA, Timberwood MS 7th and 8th grade, Humble Christian School, Texas Academy of Dance, Summer Creek HS Student Council, X-treme Dance Company, Humble Area Football League, Royal Ranger Outpost 144, Eagle Swimming Association, Texas Flip Factory, VFW Post 12075 and Knights of Columbus 6878. The parade culminated with the much-anticipated arrival of Santa Claus, who arrived atop a festively decorated Humble City Fire truck.

From there, Santa joined a gathering crowd in Uptown Park where Mayor McMannes presided over the official, annual lighting of the Humble Christmas Tree. Santa’s helpers organized and invited all children and children-at-heart to sit with Santa and relay to him their “wish-lists”.

The entire parade moved along smoothly, without mishap and with very few lags between parade entrants. Due to the chilling winds and low temperatures, parade participants moved along the parade route quickly, no doubt trying to keep warm. After the parade, hot cocoa, hot cider, hot coffee and Yule wassail helped to make the season bright and served to warm the cockles of the heart.

In July of next year, the Humble City Council and the Humble Beautification Committee will begin planning for another successful Parade of Lights to kick-off Christmas Season 2012.

Photo: Santa made his annual appearance at the close of the parade. Photo by Caity Kramer