Lighting up the holiday spirit
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years AGO
<p>Santa (Dan McHatton, of Rathdrum) takes in the Lighted Rig Parade in Rathdrum, as Santa rides along on top of a school bus down Main Street Saturday.</p>
<p>Fire trucks from Northern Lakes Fire District light up the spirited night with beautiful Christmas lights during Saturday's Hayden Lights parade along Government Way.</p>
<p>Hayden Mayor Ron McIntire, right, helps some local youths pull the lever lighting the Christmas tree in Hayden City Park Saturday during the Hayden Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony.</p>
<p>Big rigs rolled down Main Street with colorful lights and Christmas decorations, warming the hearts of children and families gathered along sidewalks celebrating the Rathdrum December O'Lights Festival on Saturday.</p>
There might not have been snow, but the spirit of Christmas was in full force Saturday during the Rathdrum December D'Lights Festival and Hayden Lights parade and tree lighting ceremony.
In Rathdrum, there were campfires on Main Street, a tree lighting ceremony and the annual lighted rig parade.
Before the parade, kids sat with Santa and families enjoyed hay rides.
Dan McHatton of Rathdrum, who was dressed as Santa and had a busy night listening to youngsters' Christmas wishes, tried to take in the parade. He wasn't able to stay long as trucks rolled by with Christmas lights.
"I noticed there were three of us (Santas) out there," he said. "I thought I should go inside."
In Hayden, families enjoyed some rocking tunes by the Atlas Elementary and Hayden Meadows special choruses.
They sang "Rock & Roll Snowman," "Hot Cup of Cocoa," and "Blitzen Boogie," to the delight of those sipping hot chocolate, and eating the free cookies in City Park.
A large crowd turned out for the tunes and the tree lighting ceremony, and other events, hosted by Hayden Mayor Ron McIntire.
Earlier in the evening, the Hayden Lights parade wowed the crowd along Government Way.
"This is probably the best parade we've had," McIntire said.