Holidays in the Park, parade draw crowds

Lebanon’s Holidays in the Park celebration, held Saturday, Dec. 1, at Ralston Park, was a big success, organizer Dala Johnson said. 

“The park was packed,” Johnson said. “I’m figuring at least 2,000 people for the lighting of the tree.” 

The Twlight Parade drew 35 entries, the most ever, she said.

The Best Overall entry was Linn County Rocks, a group of individuals, based in Lebanon, who paint rocks that are placed around the community. Johnson said Linn County Rocks volunteers painted a 400-pound boulder in front of the Lebanon Police Department blue for Dala’s Blue Angels. 

Johnson thanked the volunteers who spent  2½ months setting the park up for the celebration. 

She said she consistently had 10 volunteers each week, who were aided in set-up by changes the city made to electrical lines in the park “that took the load off my teams.” 

The weather was a big improvement this year, after rain and wind put a damper on last year’s event. 

“Last year was the only year I’ve been doing it that was horrible, other than the year we had to put it off for two weeks because it snowed,” Johnson said. 

“It was a little cold, but there was no rain. No rain is a good thing.”

Following are entries selected as winners in the Twilight Parade held Dec. 1: 

Best Use of Lights – Willamette Valley VW Club

Grand Marshal – Briese Custom Concrete

Best Use of Theme (“Fairytale Christmas”) – Sugar Vibes

Best Overall – Linn County Rocks 

Santa’s Choice – Sugar Vibes

Poster Contest winners

First place

Lilly Heath, Hamilton Creek School

Olivia Mclain, Lacomb School

Ellie Peckfelder,  East Linn Christian

Second Place 

Maya Reynolds, Lacomb School

Makiah Rash, Lacomb School

Aaliyah Marker, Green Acres

Third Place

Taylor Loop, Lacomb School

Emily Calkins, Green Acres

Michaha Weinhold, Green Acres