HILARY KINDSCHUH/Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2005 6:00 pm
Shelbie Simpson had so much fun marching in the Star City Holiday Parade last year that she signed on again this year.
“I liked how the people cheered when we went by,” said 11-year-old Simpson, a member of the Clean Sweep Kids Trash Can Band, which has promoted the parade as a litter-free event the past 12 years.
Students marching in the all-percussion band met Sunday at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds for a final practice. The band plays rhythms on recycled “instruments,” including metal pipes, milk jugs and tin cans.
Harry Heafer said almost 130 children in grades 5 and up from 37 area schools volunteered to march.
An additional 40 or more adult volunteers will interact with the crowd before, during and after the parade, helping collect trash.
The sidewalk volunteers, who carry trash bags during the parade, “are key to making it a litter-free event,” Heafer said.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Lincoln. The theme this year is “Unwrap the Joy.”
Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their appearance at the end of the parade, which will also include five giant balloons, new floats and parade mascot Major Drummond.
The parade is produced by Updowntowners Inc. and the City of Lincoln and presented by First National Bank.
“The Star City Holiday Parade is one of the traditions that makes Lincoln a special community,” said Mayor Coleen Seng in a news release announcing parade details.
“This parade takes a great deal of commitment, work and community support, but seeing the smiles of children makes it all worthwhile. As the largest parade of its kind in a five-state area, the Lincoln parade has become a regional event that draws tens of thousands of visitors to the Capital City,” Seng said.
The mayor will ride in a horse-drawn carriage with three former Lincoln mayors.
Deb Johnson, executive director of Updowntowners, said the parade attracts 85,000 people.
“The parade will feature new brightly colored push floats, including Lincoln Federal Savings Bank’s giant piggy bank, Star City Sweets and the Mouse family: Mary, Chris and Eve,” Johnson said.
She said there are also several new entries, including the Mayor’s Committee for International Friendship.
Other major sponsors include Alltel, Union Bank and Trust, U.S. Cellular and Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center.
The parade also includes unique vehicles, animal and equestrian units, walking units, costumed characters and executive clowns. Twenty bands will march, including the UNL Cornhusker Marching Band; the 43rd Army Band; bands from all six Lincoln public high schools, Pius X and Parkview Christian; and bands from Beatrice, Lawrence-Nelson, Alma, Papillion-LaVista South, Grand Island Central Catholic, Bancroft-Rosalie, Palmyra, Deshler, Pawnee City and York.
A panel of band professionals will judge the bands. All other judging will be done by a panel of children, ages 8 through 14.
Parade organizers will have volunteers collecting donations during the parade and will have a donation bucket at the information booth.
The parade will again be televised live statewide by KOLN-KGIN-TV.
The parade Web site at www.starcityholidayfestival.org includes information on all the events, plus a parade route map and parking map.
Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.
Other parade day events
Pete Penguin’s Holiday Picnic: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Downtown ActivAgeCenter, 1005 O St., All-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages, $5.
Polar Bear Picnic: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Embassy Suites Hotel, Admission $7.50 adults & $3 children.