Arlee Parade of Lights small, personal
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
ARLEE – The streets of Arlee were quiet and asleep as a blanket of iced-over crunchy snow sparkled in a bit of moonlight. Only the twinkle of candles in luminary bags lining a couple streets gave any hint that a celebration was about to happen. Then, the music started.
It could be heard faintly at first, just a whisper of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” floated on the breeze. It grew louder and louder until a burst of light spilled out into the street.
A caravan of five twinkling creations rolled slowly down the ice. Two fire trucks and an ambulance flashed red, while a lit chair on top of a minivan and a flatbed full of lighted inflatables twinkled in the darkness.
It wasn’t the biggest Arlee Parade of Lights, in the event’s eight-year history, but those who showed up to greet the convoy were handed candy by Sally Cordier and Rhea Paul.
Cordier first organized the parade in 2006, after she had a dream about playing an instrument on a lighted float in Arlee. The event has never garnered the crowds that the town’s July 4 parade usually brings in. Only a handful of people line the streets and at most, six or seven floats usually show up.
“It’s fun though,” Cordier said, as a string of lights wrapped around her twinkled. “It’s grown. I’m still waiting for someone to show up with a lighted horse.”
Last year participants braved minus-11 degree temperatures to ride through town. This year felt like a heat wave in comparison, even with a coat of barely frozen ice created by freezing drizzle that fell the night before. Rhea Paul said her family was little worried the freezing rain might detrimentally impact their floats, but everything went on as planned. The Paul float is a staple in the parade and has been present ever since the first event.
“We’ve had different blown-up animals over the years,” Paul said. “It is fun.”
The Biscuit and Wilson’s Foods donated treats for the celebration, and Cordier said she’s thankful that the Windmill Bakery has said they will donate next year.
“It’s growing,” Cordier said.
