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