Families in La Porte were treated with a special appearance from Santa Claus on Saturday, November 25. The annual Santa Parade in La Porte rode through the streets of the city spreading some holiday cheer to all the attendees.
The parade started near the corner of Tipton and State Street before traveling through downtown.
Brett Binversie, events director in La Porte, notes that the parade has been in the city’s hands after the tradition originated years ago with the La Porte Chamber of Commerce.
“Our committee is completely run by volunteers,” Binversie said. “We have a group of about eight people. We’ve worked tirelessly to get everything aligned for this special day.”
Two members of this committee include Sarah Ford and Lauren Huffman. They’ve helped plan out details for the parade with Binversie over the past few months.
“We’re going to be driving golf carts through the parade and handing out plenty of candy,” Ford said.
Ford has a lot of fun with this parade each year. The turnout was great last year after the City of La Porte decided to bump the start time of the parade from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This is our third year doing this as a committee,” Huffman said. “Everybody is always excited to see Santa Claus when it starts to get colder outside.”
While it was a chilly Saturday afternoon, the weather was still great. La Porte City Council Member Karyl Feikes, who dressed up as a reindeer for the parade this year, thought it was a beautiful day for the occasion.
“The parade is always an exciting day and we’re thankful for the weather today,” Feikes said. “That’s a big reason we moved the time for the parade last year. It’s also nice to see the lights after the sun goes down.”
Lupe Gomez and Stephanie McCullough were also giving out candy for the parade while dressed as elves. They also had some appreciation for some of the other floats.
“There’s a lot being offered in the parade this year,” Gomez said. “We have Meals on Wheels and even a horse drawn sleigh.”
Of course, a Santa Parade wouldn’t be complete without the man himself. His float consisted of a 30 foot long trailer with some of the most iconic Christmas staples.
“Santa’s float is incredible,” McCullough said. “He’s got all his reindeer, ornaments in the snow and the presents by his side. It helps conclude the parade in the best way to recognize the holidays.”
All the expenses for the parade are funded by donations. This year, the parade showcased 28 floats to represent the holiday season.
“This is always one of my favorite events to do,” Binversie said. “Having the opportunity to create a special experience that’s family oriented are the best events to manage. It’s a great reception from the public.”
Hundreds of La Porte residents filled the sides of State Road to show their support for the city during the holidays. Plaza 618 was booming with happy faces in the aftermath of another successful Santa Parade.
For more information on the City of La Porte, you can visit their website.
