Parade captures small-town spirit

Tracy Leonhardy brought her donkeys out to play. photo by Tom Chace

It was hard to tell who had the most fun: the people in the Sisters Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon, November 29, or those lining the downtown streets watching it.

Hundreds of spectators lined both sides of Hood Avenue and applauded and laughed and cheered as group after group came by in holiday regalia.

It was a "warm for this time of year" sort of day, with rain threatening but never falling.

Children of all ages from youngsters to oldsters smiled and pointed and talked about their favorite entries. The parade started at 2 p.m. and lasted about an hour.

Two local doctors, May Fan and Steve Greer, were given an honorary "ride" as dignitaries in the event billed by the sponsoring Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce as a "Small Town Christmas Parade."

Small town, indeed. During a pause in the procession, Dr. Greer inquired about the health of a recent patient who was waving from the crowd.

The doctors were part of several groups of horseback riders, some fitted out in Christmas regalia, others in the uniform of their service, such as the Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team and local Forest Service personnel.

"I haven't ridden in a parade before," said Dr. May Fan, "and I wasn't sure how my horse and I would relate. We did fine, however, and I really enjoyed it."

The Little Cloverdale Preschool youngsters were a crowd pleaser.

They were on a float made to look like a little town, representing the "A Small Town Christmas" theme.

Eighteen-year-old Rachael Scdoris was on a "sled" promoting the Atta Boy 300 Oregon World Cup "Race for Vision" to be held in Central Oregon the first week in January.

Part of the race will be in Sisters, January 6-7.

There were a number of canine entries, including a gang of seven Irish Wolfhounds, a team of six plus two Welsh Corgi dogs pulling a miniature sleigh. The crowd loved them.

Cami Sitsler was in the parade with her border collie puppy, Chance. The Cloverdale Fire Department came with their mini-fire truck and fire dog.

Horses of every description clopped by -- from poniesfrom "Bit of Heaven Riding School" to a group of Mangalarga Marchadors from Brazil, Missouri Trotters, Tennessee Walking Horses, Kentucky Mountain Horses and Peruvian Paso brought to the parade route by Gaited Mountain Magic.

The Sisters Saddlebags, a regular feature in Sisters' parades, again got heavy applause as did a duo of Paso Fino horses with their smooth gait and beautiful conformation.

Children performed costumed as dancers, elves, baton twirlers. The SOAR dance ensemble performed. The School of Dance did a well-rehearsed number to the song, "Santa Baby."

Sonrise Christian School had a triple set of wagons fixed to look like camels driven by the Three Wise Men.

The Camp Fire, USA children were represented, and a new day-care center, Little Bear, was present as were the Girl Scouts and Brownies.

In Sisters, no parade would be complete without a goodly number of llamas and there was a special group from Buck Heaven's Llama Farm, trained especially to visit retirement homes, schools and participate in parades. They were beautifully "costumed" in seasonal garb and led by equally handsome keepers.

The parade closed with the entrance of Santa and Mrs. Claus riding in a "surrey with the fringe on top."