BY CRAIG SHULTZ
It may have rained on their parade, but that didn’t dampen the spirit for thousands of participants and spectators at the annual Hemet Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade started at 10 a.m. as skies darkened and ended three hours later under a constant drizzle. The temperature was in the low 40s, and many in the crowd were wearing heavy jackets, scarves and knit hats while others were wrapped in blankets. Umbrellas and raincoats became popular accessories as the drizzle started. Scott and Nina Parker stood out near the end of the route in their bright yellow rain ponchos. “We’ve had these ponchos so I said ‘let’s just bring them,” Nina Parker said. “We’ve had them for years and never used them before.” There appeared to be fewer people lining Florida Avenue than last year — when temperatures were in the high 60s — but the crowd still turned out in large numbers for what is annually the bestattended event in Hemet. Spectators yelled “Merry Christmas” to participants and children ran to fetch candy that was handed out or thrown at their feet. The parade started with an ROTC group and ended with Santa Claus atop a Hemet fire truck. In between, middle and high schools bands, dance and cheer troops, equestrian units, classic cars and floats from businesses travelled 1 mile along Florida Avenue from Palm Avenue west to Kirby Street. There were 108 entries and 5,100 participants registered, the most ever, according to organizers. Falling on Pearl Harbor Day, the parade was themed “Salute to America” and the grand marshals were a group of about one dozen World War II veterans, who rode in a trolley. “It’s bringing back memories I’d like to forget,” said Don Scholten, 86, of Hemet, who nevertheless was happy to be in the parade. Pearl Harbor survivor Les Lindow, 91, said it was an honor to be recognized. While the temperature was frigid for Southern Californians, the day was practically balmy for Dale and Karen Bogard, snowbirds from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, where the low was minus-17 degrees Saturday. “(l) mostly enjoy the bands and the horses,” Dale Bogard said. “And the veterans. It’s very well done.” Walter and Krystal Crispo arrived at Florida and Palm around 8 a.m., two hours before the festivities began to be sure they’d have a good spot so 10-month-old Vincenzo could enjoy his first parade. “This is where it all starts,” Walter Crispo said. He has lived in Hemet since 1970 and has attended many parades. He recalled participating once as the Coast Federal Savings and Loan bunny. “It’s just the Christmas spirit,” he said when asked what brings him back. “Everyone gets to see each other.” The Parkers, at the other end of the route, expressed similar feelings. “It’s neat to see everybody come out,” said Scott Parker, who was there to watch their son march with the West Valley High School ROTC unit. Not every parade participant had just two legs. Barbie Carlson drove an alpaca and llama along the parade route in her Honda Ridgeline. She did so as a favor for her friend, Nancy Varga, whose husband, Charlie, a retired Riverside County Sheriff deputy, died in June. Varga was going to parade the animals, but was at a ceremony recognizing her husband, so Carlson stepped in. “I’ve lived in this Valley for 40 years,” Carlson said as members of the Ramona Rancheros 4-H Club helped her decorate her vehicle with tinsel. “I’ve had cows in this parade, I’ve had horses. Now it’s llamas.” While the llama stuck his Santa-hatted head out of the rear window, the alpaca was having nothing of it, sitting on the floor in front of the passenger seat.