The Star City Holiday Parade, originally scheduled for Dec. 1, will start at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Cory Matteson / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, December 2, 2007 6:00 pm
Even her answering machine rejoiced.
“We’re happy to report the Star City Holiday Parade is on,” began a chipper message from Deb Johnson, executive director of the parade, Monday.
Forgive her for not picking up the phone. There’s quite a bit of rescheduling to do.
Floats? Check.
Sponsors? Check.
TV coverage? Check.
Balloons? Check.
Helium? Check.
Funds and volunteers? Getting there.
Canceled for the first time in its 23-year history due to icy weather, the parade’s back on for now, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. Credit that, she said, to so many people promising to help out for an additional week.
“I think it is a testimony to how much people love the Star City Holiday Parade,” Johnson said.
“In short, too many people have worked too hard to give up now,” Mayor Chris Beutler said in a news release. “And too many kids of all ages have been looking forward to the parade.”
The kids, somewhat miraculously, still will get their balloons.
“We got very lucky,” Johnson said. “Our parade weekend, Dec. 1, is the busiest holiday parade weekend in the country.”
The following weekend isn’t, so the balloons weren’t booked for any Dec. 8 engagements. Clifford, Elmo, the Grinch and others will take to O Street after all — at no additional charge.
The balloon companies, she said, have been “very philanthropic.”
As for other entries, including marching bands, organizers are waiting for answers.
Of course, a big concern persists. A big, frosty one.
If the little National Weather Service graphic on the Web site’s seven-day forecast Monday is any indication, Lincoln on Friday night will transform into an ice cave.
There’s another chance of freezing drizzle predicted, along with an overnight low of 23 degrees. The Saturday forecast calls for partly sunny skies, with a high near 38.
Like last week, Johnson said, she’s hoping for the best.
In winter parade terms, that means no ice and low winds.
Reach Cory Matteson at 473-2655 or cmatteson@journalstar.com.