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Thousands lined Main Street on a weather-perfect Saturday night for the annual Hometown Holiday Parade and tree lighting festivities.
Both Amador Valley and Foothill high school marching bands took part with Amador’s taking its turn to kick off the parade at 5 p.m. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Brownies marched, many in their uniforms, along with the American Patriots, creative floats, church groups and plenty of classic cars.
One of the hits was the St. Bernard Club of the Pacific Coast, with Santa (not the real one) being pulled by a St. Bernaard nearly twice his size.
After Santa, himself, ended the parade, lights on the city’s Christmas tree in front of the Museum On Main weere turned on for the holidays.
Christmas Parade…..
Agree…
C’mon say it. You can do it! CHRISTMAS Parade CHRISTMAS Parade CHRISTMAS Parade
When you organize and execute your own parade, you can call it whatever you want.
For those of us that don’t have tons of time on our hands, “Holiday Parade” is just fine.
Thanks for featuring a photo of the Golden State Roller Girls!!! Pleasanton’s local flat-track roller derby.
Pleasanton has always been a town of parades dating way back in history. I think it is great and it keeps the charm of living here alive.
Timothy,does it really take that much more time to say Christmas than holiday?
It was so awesome to see the Golden State Roller Girls jumping over each other. YOU GO GIRLS!
The parade was fabulous this year. It was nice to see all the different organizations and groups out supporting each other. I am going to have to agree with the post above, and say my favorite this year would have to be the jumping from the Roller girls. Good Job Ladies.
Absolutely a great Christmas Parade again this year! Kudos to Brian Dutchover, Bernie Billen and all the many others who totally dedicate themselves to making this annual great each year event in our wonderful Christmas spirit downtown. I saw many families thoroughly enjoying themselves. It was good to see many varieties of units–what a great way to introduce many of our younger generation to marching in a parade. Also great thanks to the 262 member strong Amador Valley High School marching band and also to the great Foothill High School marching band as well–we are blessed in our community with 2 great high school bands. I will be there again next year.
Thank you for featuring a photo of our team in this article. We had so much fun at the Holiday parade and we look forward to doing it again next year!
*GOLDEN STATE ROLLER GIRLS*
This was my first Pleasanton Holiday Parade and I wanted to say it was so great. There was such a good assortment of local groups in the parade. I loved the Golden State Roller Girls on their jumps, the animal rescue groups were so cute, and all the floats were so good. I will be at next years for sure.
It was a wonderful HOLIDAY parade creating a wonderful community spirit for all of the members of our community regardless of their religious affiliation. Pleasanton is a wonderful place for all!
The Christmas Parade is something we all really look forward to every year, and once again the City Staff did an fantastic job! One of the many joys of living here.
The fact still remains that Christmas is a Christian holiday. The only reason it is called a Holiday Parade is because a bunch of over sensitive people who don’t know or understand the true meaning of Christmas thought it was offensive to call it something they didn’t believe in. Maybe we should start asking them to re-word their religious holiday greetings and sayings. Oh wait, they would call that discrimination or intruding upon their Constitutional rights or something, wouldn’t they. I guess they are having a hard time understanding what Advent and Christmas are all about!!!
I refuse to say Happy Holidays…so MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!
Merry Christmas, Bob and everyone else who understands what this holiday season was and is all about, despite attempts to hijack, demean, or water down the holiday. Merry Christmas, all of you!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE GOLDEN STATE ROLLER GIRLS!
I loved the CHRISTMAS parade this year. what got me was two things-some church had a “float” (pick up truck with people aboard) and the sign said something like Jesus is the reason for the season–yet they were singing either Jingle bells or rudolph-neither song has anything to do with Jesus is the reason for the season. just saying.
the other down side was the dance group dancing to “Sexy and I know it” Is that a new Christmas song?
On the bright side-I was standing next to a little girl about 8 years old-she is what Christmas is all about-she was waving to everyone in the parade. this little girl was so excited. glad there are still kids like this in the world today. I bet Christmas morning is the best in her house. she brought a great smile to my face just watching her.
@ Bob – you do know Christmas is an appropriation by early Christians of various pagan and Druid celebrations centered around the winter solstice? Scholars believe Jesus wasn’t actually born in the month of December, certainly not on December 25th, but rather sometime in the summer around June. Beyond the creche, most Christmas symbols and traditions were appropriated from other mythologies and belief systems, Santa Claus, Yule Logs, Christmas Trees, and such.
Why can’t all the so-called “Christians” embrace the spirit of their religion and welcome all those in town to celebrate all the wonderful holidays and traditions the various belief systems bring to our little town. We are fortunate to have celebrations of Diwali (sp?), Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Hanukah, Festivus, and many more. It truly is the Holiday Season and not just Christmas. Stop being so selfish and embrace what other cultures and beliefs can offer in this wonderful time of year.
Curious-bah, humbug. Blaming Christians (I have to assume you’re not one, since you’ve chosen to point your crooked finger in their direction) for not being ‘inclusionary’ (how politically correct and magnanamous of you) is a misplaced when it comes to Christmas time. Everyone can celebrate Christmas if they choose to. Do you think Pleasantonians will be invited to Kwanzaa celebrations and parades any time soon? Christ is the reason for the season. All others can join in the celebration of Christmas, or choose not to and create their own ‘holiday’. Why is it selfish to celebrate the birth of Christ? If belittling Christians makes the holidays better for you, I guess you have that right, but you must be a very unhappy person. Merry Christmas to you anyway……….
*sigh* Yet another formerly feel-good thread hijacked by the “War on Christmas”. Seriously folks, lighten up. Spread cheer, not animosity.
You’re right, Maria. Merry Christmas!
I will not be timid about the use of words and symbols that speak Christmas. It is a very small percentage of mean spirited people year after year that creates a Christmas dispute when hearts should be preparing themselves for joy and peace!
To those who wrongly insinuate that many non-Christians are offended by Christmas. I say: I forgive you, peace be with you and Merry Christmas
Such a good time out, especially the G.S.R.Girls.
The only way a good community grows into a healthy great community is together. All differences aside we choose to remain/live in the greater Pleasanton area because of how the City grows with it’s people.
Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
– Mohandas K. Gandhi
-HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND THE GOLDEN STATE ROLLER GIRLS ARE AWESOME!!!
The high school bands were great! Who were the guys from the Ghost Busters vehicle? Also agree that “I’m sexy and I know it” is not really a good song for a holiday parade, maybe they will come back and have a holiday theme song next time. We skipped a few years of attending the parade and were happy to see it has improved quite a bit. The effort going into the parade really shows and it’s a parade to be proud of. We are lucky to live in a such a great community. I hope the downtown restaurants had a good night of business.
It is so odd to me how defensive people are about the use of the phrase “Happy Holidays”. There is no war on Christmas. If this is a holiday that you celebrate, I doubt you’ve stopped because people say “Holiday” instead of “Christmas”. You understand that Coca-Cola invented the modern version of Santa Clause and that the holiday is a fabricated derrivative of Pegan celebrations. Don’t lose your spirit of the holiday because of a word.. you are forgiven, move forward and say Merry Chirstmas to anyone and everyone if that is what makes you feel better, but there is no war on Christmas…
Happy Holidays.. and may you find peace.
The parade was wonderful, whether you call it a Holiday Parade or Christmas Parade. But, really? How appropriate was it for the dance group to be dancing to “I’m Sexy and I Know it”? Family-friendly songs would be nice —