Columbia All Equestrian Christmas Parade

BCHC Mid Valley Unit

We rode, and helped out behind the scenes, at the annual Columbia State Park All Equestrian Christmas Christmas Parade on December 9, 2012.
All photos courtesy of Kathy Zumbrunn.
You may jump to the newsletter article below the pictures.

Another wonderful parade! I am so proud of all who participated and made this year's parade even better than 2012's! The weather was bright and sunny and the counts of both parade entries and spectator attendance increased over last year. There was a full page article on page 10 of the Union Democrat Weekender accompanied by a large color photo that I am sure drew attention to our event and increased attendance. Thanks to Gary Linehan and the newspaper for their continuing support. In addition, I sincerely appreciate Leslie Davis of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for sharing her long list of media contacts with me and for spreading the word about our parade.

Thanks to Jean Tucker, Terri Arington and Kathy Zumbrunn for helping me post our colorful parade flyers all over Tuolumne County and to those of you who put posters up in the Valley as well.

MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED:

• Doug and Cathy Dollarhide helped me with tons of behind the scenes tasks to make the parade a success. Doug was in charge of parking and traffic control as well as after-parade clean-up. Cathy recruited and worked with the social service agency representative who attended the parade and received donated toys. Cathy made boxes for toy collection and thank you notes to distribute to toy donors.
• The new Columbia State Park administrator, Greg Martin, and his staff supported the parade from beginning to end, approved the two-time-around idea and made sure street barricades were accessible to us very early Sunday morning.
• Lloyd Erlandson secured the required insurance coverage from BCHC.
• Always cheerful and easy to work with CSHA-certified judge, Alice Lawellen, conducted pre-judging of all willing entries then judged again during the parade. She carefully calculated points, documented her results and helped Cathy Dollarhide and me present awards at the parade's conclusion.
• Professional announcer, Mike Day, brought his increased capacity public address system, played Christmas music before the parade and skillfully greeted and announced each entry as it made its way down Columbia's Main Street (twice!)
• The uniformed gentlemen of the Community Service Unit capably directed traffic and assisted parade entries to safely cross streets. According to our best count, there were more than 153 riders in 27 parade entries; only two entrants "no-showed." I was delighted the Merced County Sheriff's Posse (a polished and experienced parade group) and the Columbia Stage Coach, driven by Tom Fraser, joined us this year. Fifty-two riders were Mid Valley Unit members who rode as individual entries or in the Mid Valley Unit group. In addition, there were at least 20 Mid Valley members present who were not riding but who helped with all facets of putting on the parade and cleaning up afterward.
• The willing volunteers at the registration table (Cathy Dollarhide, Stephanie Stott, Mischele Rangel) and my husband, Larry, kept me and all of the paperwork well-organized and assisted with the check-in process.
• Terri Arington graciously delivered yummy breakfast treats to the registration table to help kick start our day with sugar.
• Joe Pimentel, parade starter and pacer, made sure entries moved smoothly and evenly and professionally handled a somewhat belligerent biker who didn't understand loud motorcycles and horses don't mix. Thanks, Joe!
• Randy Powell brought his quad to help Doug with parking.
• Debra Mason dutifully served as the go-to person for potentially dangerous riders and animals. Thankfully there were no incidents! A cart- pulling mini with flying mane trotted quickly down Main Street for a short distance but its driver soon got him under control.
• Again this year, John Kidd greeted parade goers as the jolly cart-driving Santa Claus with colorfully dressed Maggie Nevitt accompanying him as Mrs. Santa.
• Cathy Dollarhide, with assistance from Johnny Leal, collected two truckloads of donated toys, $106 in cash, and three gift certificates for the Amador Calaveras Tuolumne County Action Agency, ensuring children of more than 600 Tuolumne County families will experience the joy of having a wrapped gift under the Christmas tree this year. Terri Arington delivering toys to Sammi Rhodes of Amador Calaveras Tuolumne County Action Agency (ACTCAA) Judging the pooper scoopers Johnny Leal and Garret Dollarhide
• Kathy Zumbrunn skillfully took tons of photos of all aspects of the parade and its entrants, some of which are included in this edition of the newsletter and others that will be posted on the unit's website.
• Dan Prine organized the Mid Valley Unit entry and provided Santa caps to each rider to create a lively holiday appearance. Congratulations! Mid Valley Unit was again awarded First Place in the Mounted Group class!
• Here is a list of parade riders from Mid Valley Unit. Many rode as part of our unit's entry and others rode as separate individual or group entries. My sincere apologies if I missed anyone: Terri Arington, Lee Bailey, Karen Barindelli, Steve Bauhr, Jan Canavan, Steve and Gabby Christner and family, Karen De Angelis, Rudy Dezzani, Julie Dorrepaal, Kiki Edgerton, DeAnn Edwards, Debra Evans, Paul and Corky Fellingham with daughter Tara Castello and granddaughter Payton Gillian, Marlene Fultz, Janine Geissler, Candy Graham, Priscilla Hauschildt, Richard Hodgson, Carlena Kellogg, John Kidd, Rich Kirchner, Debra Lewis, Hailey Lopes, Sally Moore, Maggie Nevitt, Claudia Parrish and Kayla, Susie Perry, Carl and Julie Perry, Tami Peters, Candace Peterson, Joe and Michelle Pimentel, Dan, Logan and Nikki Prine, Katherine Reeves, Dave and Jody Rumsey with Kaitlyn, Mikayla and Kaycee, Laurel Rumsey, Barbara Savery, Dennis Serpa, Dianne and Ron Stearns, Kathy Truitt, Jean and Steve Tucker, Vicki Vermeer, Jim Westmoreland, Nancy Willmes and Diane Ziettlow. The banner was carried by Michele Pimentel and Nina Cash.
• Corrie and Garrett Dollarhide, Joan Wilkinson, 4-H kids, and many others scooped poop to ensure the streets of Columbia were as clean as they were upon our arrival.

Yes, Christmas Parade Day was definitely fun and exciting! Thanks to everyone who welcomed the holiday season by joining me in Columbia Sunday, December 9!!