Christmas Arrives in Hub City

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Hub City as the annual illuminated parade kicked off the Holiday Season in Alice.
Cool temperatures did not keep the large crowds lined up along the parade route as many in their coats, sweaters, jackets and blankets awaited for the lighting of downtown and the arrival of Santa Claus.
Before turning on the lights in downtown, Alice Mayor Larry Martinez welcomed the crowd along with Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Esparza and Councilmembers Raul Chapa and Frank Hinojosa.
“It’s great to see so many of you out here enjoying the start of the holiday season.” Mayor Martinez said.
Along the route kids cheered and clapped as they saw floats all decked out in lights, the marching band playing Christmas music and of course the arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade.
“This was a huge success. We had more entries than last year which made it hard on the judges to decide on the winners,” Alice Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Juan Navejar said. “All the entries were quite unique in keeping with the theme of a Story Book Christmas.
This year’s parade winners were: Best Performance – Guadalupas, Best Church Entry – Knights of Columbus & Catholic Daughters, Most Unique – Alice Heart and Vascular Center, Best Out of Town – Brush Country Fair Association, Best Youth – Cub Scout Troop 396, Best Business – Alice Pediatrics,  Best School Entry – Alice High School Band, Best Decorated Entry – Styles Lowrides, Director’s Choice Award – H-E-B, Honorable Mention were San Diego Vaqueros, Fourth of July Freer Royalty, Miss Jim Wells County and Freer Rattlesnake Roundup.
The parade and lighting of downtown is sponsored by the Alice Chamber of Commerce/Convention Visitors Bureau and the City of Alice.