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Star City Parade will 'make spirits bright'

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 - 12:17:34 am CST

The theme for this year’s Star City Holiday Festival is “Making Spirits Bright,” Mayor Coleen Seng announced Tuesday.

The 22nd annual event is set for Dec. 2 in downtown Lincoln. The 11 a.m. parade is presented by Updowntowners Inc. and the city of Lincoln.

“This year, we are looking forward to a spectacular event, thanks to the hard work of many volunteers and community supporters, who help make this the largest parade of its kind in the five-state area,” Seng said in a news release.

Story Photo
The Cat in the Hat floats down O Street during the 2004 Star City Parade. (LJS file)

Deb Johnson, executive director of Updowntowners, said the parade attracts 85,000 people. Parade entries include marching bands, giant helium balloons and animals. The parade also will feature the newer brightly colored push floats, including Star City Sweets and the Lincoln Federal Savings giant piggy bank.

Parade mascot Major Drummond will make his annual appearance, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet crowds.

Pre-parade entertainment will begin at 9:30 a.m. along the parade route.

An awards ceremony after the parade will begin at 12:45 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel.

A panel of band professionals will judge the competing bands. All other judging will be done by a panel of children, ages 8 through 14.

The parade will be televised live on KOLN/KGIN-TV (channel 11).

It will be re-aired from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3 on My TV, Time Warner Cable channel 110. It also will be re-aired throughout the month of December on 5 CITY-TV, the local government access cable channel. (Go to lincoln.ne.gov for the 5 CITY-TV schedule.)

The festival’s Web site includes a complete list and description of activities; parking and street closure details; the parade route; sponsorship opportunities; and food vendor information. The Web site can be found at: starcityholidayfestival.org.

For more information, call festival headquarters at 434-6902.


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bonnie wrote on November 22, 2006 7:10 am:
" sunshine,rain,or snow we are going to go. We went out last year to watch my daughter in the trash can band. It may have been a blizzard, but we had fun. And the little kids were so cute all bundled up. But they didn't care. they were watching the parade. Everyone had a good time. "
Idea wrote on November 22, 2006 7:19 am:
" Lets have the parade on the coldest days of the year so that kids can actually freeze fingers and instruments and damage them more easily. Seems like an ill concieved idea from the beginning, one year many of the bands that had planned to attend didn't because of the fact that freezing temperature would effect the instruements and even the U of N Marching band did not march. I applaud those that refuse to march in such temperatures. However, we do have the global warming that seems to be keeping temperatures at and around 50 degrees, even these temperatures can be dangerous for certian instruments. But, oh well, what do I know, I am just a retired Music teacher that doesn't have anything else to do but say things like, use common sense when you plan things. "
Better things to worry about... wrote on November 22, 2006 9:36 am:
" I rarely respond to stories, but I do read the on-line paper everyday and the comments from readers. I enjoy hearing the cynicism and sarcasm that oozes from some of these responses. It is amazing to me that people get so angry and upset over some of the good things that occur in this town, such as this parade. If you need something to comment about, why don't you get upset about the racism, sexism, and classism that still occurs in our world. Those are better things to get worked up about, not the Star City Parade. "
scrooge wrote on November 22, 2006 9:57 am:
" I hope the weather is crap that day. This whole parade idea is stupid. Just another way to clutter up downtown traffic as if home football games and state basketball tournaments aren't enough. "
hUH? wrote on November 22, 2006 10:08 am:
" When else would you have a "holiday parade" that features Santa and Mrs. Claus, JUNE??? Some people just have to complain. If you don't want to go then don't go, and if your group doesn't want to participate because of the weather then don't participate. I wonder how Macy's pulls it off every year, last I checked the weather in New York usually isn't to warm this time of the year either. "
sam wrote on November 22, 2006 10:41 am:
" where is your holiday spirit. my children have always participated in the parade and we have had a great time. I guess if you don't like the weather in Nebraska perhaps you should move. I agree if you don't want to go then don't go. "
Idea wrote on November 22, 2006 12:22 pm:
" Sam, Better things to worry about, huH?, well, maybe you aren't the ones out there getting your fingers and toes etc., exposed to those extreme temperatures, and maybe you don't have thousands of dollars invested in the instruments that are used, but some of us do. As to Santa clause etc, and complaining, I am not complaining, I'm just stating facts, and that seems to be the thing that irritates most of you is the facts. Fun and games are O. K. but facts still exist. I was a kid on the farm in the early 50s and temperatures were a lot colder than now, so I know how cold it can get. I also know what frost bite is and I recognize that this is a parade, but why not have it earlier in november when everyone can enjoy it. When 98 % of the Bands that were to perform do not show up that is embarrassing in and of itself, and when one band does show up just to prove something that is another thing. As for me I will not attend., and as to moving out of Nebraska as suggested, Why does this statement always come up, when someone doesn't agree. You folks must want only a select few to live in Nebraska or you are so Narrow minded you can not see anyone else's point of view. I am not oppossed to Parades, I just think the planning of it is way off for most WINTERS. This one may be an exception. "
Susan wrote on November 22, 2006 12:37 pm:
" No one is forcing you to attend the parade or watch it. Just because you don't like it, don't ruin it for others by your petty whining. I too grew up in the 50's and remember watching parades in the cold winter and in 100 degree weather during the summer. Let them be children. It creates wonderful memories. "
TO wrote on November 22, 2006 1:13 pm:
" So what about highschool and college marching bands... marching bands are MOST the time outside marching during football games and competitions. When do you think football and competitions are? In the cold weather. Not all times is it cold outside but when I marched in a marching band and went to NSBA it always seemed to be cold. I would rather it be cold than stinkin hot in the dead of summer with the uniforms you have to wear. MOST band members at some point in time have marched in the freezing cold. Looks like there are ALOT of damaged instruments out there. Being a retired music teacher didn't you have a marching band??? Did they NEVER practice or march in the cold? "
Idea wrote on November 22, 2006 9:45 pm:
" Yes I had marching bands and yes I played in bands that marched outside in cold weather but that was 40 years ago for me and 25 years ago for my students. I must admit that marching outside is invigorating but it is also dangerous, because of the wind chill and freezing temperatures. Our humidity and climate are a bit dryer than before and the wind chill can be quite piercing to a young student and to young children. Evidence now has it that this type of playing in cold weather can and does create broncitus in students as well as it can and does create Pneumonia in certian students in young children. I am saying that if this was scheduled in the middle or early november it would be better attended and less likely to create as many health hazards. Common sense. Coming from a farm background and being up early as a child in freezing temperatures with wind chills in the below zero range created many frost bites daily. Those are not easily healed and can create other problems. Since I became accustomed to them being in them all the time it is different than people today who do not spend as much time in the outdoors, especially marching. As for me I never did march in December except for in bowl games that were in warmer temperatures. I am sorry that people do not understand this but, children are very easily frost bit, especially those younger than 4 and young students in the 7th and 8th grade can get frost bit and other health problems that others may not. Have fun at the Parade and enjoy it as this time it will be nice but maybe not so in future times. "

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