KELSEYVILLE >> There’s no better way to start the holiday season than with Santa and his reindeer … or in the case of Kelseyville’s annual Christmas in the Country Parade of Lights, with St. Nick and his John Deere.
“I love the lighted trucks and tractors,” said Lakeport resident and parade viewer Patty Brunetti, wearing a red and green elf hat. “I’ve lived in the county 30 years and I come here every year because I want to be with the community.”
Brunetti and about 3,000 others braved a chilly but tolerable night Friday to watch the parade and then go shopping as downtown merchants stayed open late, offering plenty of bargains, many locally made, along with snacks and beverages.
“This is a good way to start the Christmas season, to be a part of the community,” said John Drewery of Lakeport who attended the parade with his wife and two young sons. “We came to see the tractors with the lights and the kids are looking forward to seeing Santa Claus.”
Christa and Mike Vandergriff of Clearlake had three good reasons to attend the parade: their two daughters and son were on the Lake County Diamonds cheerleading club float.
“We come every year and have seen the parade grow over the years,” Christa Vandergriff said. “It’s kind of a unique event for Lake County.”
Her husband, Mike, added, “I like coming because I run into an awful lot of people that I know or work with.”
Cobb resident Kathi Williamson said nothing could keep her away from Kelseyville’s traditional kickoff of the holiday season. She attended the parade with her husband and then stayed to shop.
“We come to this every year,” she said while sipping a pre-parade glass of wine at Wildhurst Vineyards Tasting Room along Main street. “We love being out and enjoying Christmas in the Country in Kelseyville.”
For Dave and Jeannette Roush of Lakeport, it was the first time they had attended the festivities.
“We’re seeing friends here that we haven’t seen in a long time,” Jeannette Roush said. “And enjoying the parade,” she added.
Dave Roush gave a simple answer when asked what brought him out to the Friday night event. “I’m taking my wife out for the evening.”
When it was pointed out that most of the evening’s events were free, including the hot chocolate and cookies they were consuming, Jeannette Roush replied, laughing, “I’m a cheap date.”
Nine-year-old Madison Stone of Kelseyville said she enjoyed the parade — especially the float with Santa upside down in a chimney — but now she was waiting in a long line to chat with the superstar of Christmas magic, Kris Kringle.
Her mission? “To tell him what I want for Christmas.”
After insisting she was near the top of the Big Man’s ‘nice’ list, she disclosed the one gift she really, really wants to see under her Christmas tree on Dec. 25: “A laptop.”
Her statement was an unintentional slap in the face to many of the adults standing around her, whose childhood wish list items include Slinkies, Hula Hoops, Barbie dolls and Lionel train sets.
But lest people think of Madison as a material girl, she added, “I want to wish all of my friends in my fourth-grade class at Terrace Middle School a Merry Christmas.”
Madison was joined by several other children with parents in tow to wait in line to see Santa at Westamerica Bank. Most told Santa what they wanted for Christmas while having their photos taken with the man in the red suit.
The bank had snacks and hot drinks available for those waiting and live Christmas music was provided by Lake County band The Bridge.
Other events included hot chocolate, hot dogs and chili at St. Peter’s Catholic Church Hall, seafood chowder and chili at the Kelseyville Methodist Church Hall & Unitarian (along with a canned food drive for the holidays), and outdoor barbecue at John’s Market.
The parade and open house is sponsored annually by the Kelseyville Business Association.
