Christmas 'Express'
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
Students participate in the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
BILL BULEY/Press
Ron Reno guides "The Hayden Express" with Santa Claus through the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
Ruben and Victoria Tormozov and their children watch the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
Mya Seaton gives a thumbs up during the Hayden Lights Parade.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office had The Grinch behind bars for the Hayden Lights Parade.
Christopher Spatz, grand marshal of the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday, gets a ride in a 1948 Nash from Dick Panabaker.
Debbie Funke, left, and Kim Inman lead “the funniest bunch of horsewomen on the planet” for the Hayden Lights Parade.
Members of Northern Dance Academy perform during the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
Claire Seaton smiles and waves during the Hayden Lights Parade.
Felicity Kolbet lights up with the Idaho Central Credit Union entry in the Hayden Lights Parade.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | December 3, 2023 1:08 AM
HAYDEN — For Christopher Spatz, being the grand marshal of the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday was “an incredible honor.”
“I can’t express how humbled I am,” he said as he sat in the passenger seat of a 1948 Nash driven by Dick Panabaker.
Spatz was also honored as Hayden’s Distinguished Veteran and was beaming with pride as the crowd applauded.
“I’m just blown away by the support of the community,” he said.
On a chilly, clear night with snow on the ground, people lined Government Way for the annual celebration to usher in the Christmas spirit.
Dancers, cowgirls, horses, The Grinch, The Gingerbread Man and a bunch of kids joined the 25-minute parade that traveled from Hayden Avenue to Honeysuckle.
Afterward, a few hundred gathered at McIntire Family Park for the tree-lighting ceremony.
Ron Reno drove “The Hayden Express” that pulled Santa and Mrs. Claus. He was having fun and shared their joy.
“I’m happy as hell,” he shouted with a smile.
Sisters Mya Seaton and Claire Seaton rode their barrel horses through the parade, putting on a show as they held the reigns and waved at the same time.
“Amazing,” Mya said when asked how they were enjoying the parade.
Ruben and Victoria Tormozov watched the parade with their two children and enjoyed the community coming together.
Ruben said his company, Tormozov Fine Homes, is opening an office in Hayden.
“We love where Hayden is going, the community, we’re excited to be part of it,” he said.
Likewise, Felicity Kolbet with the Idaho Central Credit Union entry was sporting colorful lights on her head in honor of the parade's theme,
“I love it,” she said.
Ron Reno guides "The Hayden Express" with Santa Claus through the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
Ruben and Victoria Tormozov and their children watch the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
Mya Seaton gives a thumbs up during the Hayden Lights Parade.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office had The Grinch behind bars for the Hayden Lights Parade.
Christopher Spatz, grand marshal of the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday, gets a ride in a 1948 Nash from Dick Panabaker.
Debbie Funke, left, and Kim Inman lead “the funniest bunch of horsewomen on the planet” for the Hayden Lights Parade.
Members of Northern Dance Academy perform during the Hayden Lights Parade on Saturday.
Claire Seaton smiles and waves during the Hayden Lights Parade.
Felicity Kolbet lights up with the Idaho Central Credit Union entry in the Hayden Lights Parade.
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