Alamogordo Christmas Parade a Success

ALAMOGORDO – Tenth Street was lined shoulder to shoulder with residents watching Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade that had an impressive 82 lighted floats winding down the thoroughfare to New York Avenue Saturday.

It’s the most parade participants within the last three years. The 2016 parade had 52 entries.

Chamber spokeswoman Kathie Schuyler said she believed the parade was a success considering it was her first year organizing the event.

“It went great,” Schuyler said. “It was very well attended. The floats were wonderful. Overall it was a great experience. It was my first Christmas parade I worked and organized. I think we had a good variety of floats in the parade this year.”

She said she is ready to do it again next year.

“Christmas is my favorite holiday,” Schuyler said. “The only issue was trying to get everybody lined up. The only other issue was with congestion at 14th and Oregon but we got it taken care of pretty quickly.”

She said she believes the highlight of the parade was the number of attendees and the floats.

“I think everybody had a great time,” Schuyler said. “There were so many different things to get done from trying to get judges situated all the way to the lineup to the parade line up. Overall it was a lot of questions and to make sure to ask them.”

She said she would like to get a better idea of lining up the floats for next year’s parade.

“I want to get a better understanding of spacing between participants to ensure everyone has enough room,” Schuyler said. “We started a new thing to invite people to the planning meeting for the parade. We want as much community involvement as possible.”         

Mayor Richard Boss said he was a judge for the parade floats.

“I was really impressed,” Boss said. “I don’t know the number of people but we had record attendance because you could tell by looking up and down the street. We had a lot of people in attendance. We had a variety of floats.”

He said he was really impressed with the floats and residents in attendance for the parade.

“The weather was cold but it wasn’t terrible,” Boss said. “A lot of citizens of Alamogordo showed up for it. I am really pleased with that.”

He said he enjoyed watching the children running out and getting candy being tossed from floats participants.

“Every float had some cool features to them,” Boss said. “Last year’s parade was great parade but this years topped it because of not only the number of floats but also the number of citizens out watching the parade. You could just tell everyone was having a wonderful time. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Chamber Interim CEO G.B. Oliver drove the Parade Marshal New Mexico State University-Alamogordo President Dr. Ken Van Winkle the entire parade route Saturday.

“I was blown away by the parade this year,” Oliver said. “I couldn’t believe the number of people that showed up for it. I had a great time. The reason the parade is a success is because of Kathie Schuyler and Michelle Gill. They did a fabulous job.”

He said he was impressed that the parade when off without any issues.

“Part of it maybe the opportunity that this community is facing,” Oliver said. “There’s a growing enthusiasm when you look at what’s going to come off Holloman Air Force Base and the kind of revenue that represents this community. Look at the number of service clubs in the parade.”

Christmas Parade Float Winners

Marching Unit

1st place: Tiger Marching Band

2nd place: Chaparral & Mountain View Band

Secular Animal

1st place: Democratic Party of Otero County

2nd place: Cloudriders of New Mexico Equine Group

Secular Motorized

1st place: TDS

2nd place: Toys 4 Tots

Secular Float

1st place: David Black for Sheriff

2nd place tied: White Sands Rotary Club & Alamogordo Search & Rescue

Religious Float

1st place: Mountain View Assembly of God

2nd place: Eternity Baptist Church