Norman parade brightens season

NORMAN — Multicolored strands of lights decorated Main Street on Saturday night during Norman’s annual Christmas parade, which kicked off later than usual this year.

This fall, parade organizers announced that the parade would begin at 5 p.m., instead of its traditional 10 a.m. start time, providing a darker backdrop for the lighted floats and enticing families to stay downtown for dinner and shopping following the parade.

More than 70 parade entries took over an hour and a half to march from Norman High School through downtown Norman. Many families braved the cold awaiting Santa Claus whose sleigh, followed by emergency vehicles and cleaning crews, marked the end of the parade.

EDMOND — The University of Central Oklahoma has announced the selections of “Miss UCO 2018” and “Miss Asian UCO 2017-18.”

Alana Hughes, a senior contemporary music performance major from Edmond, recently won the Miss UCO 2018 title. She will compete for the Miss Oklahoma title in June 2018.

Yi Wen Wong, a junior mass communication — professional media major from Malaysia, has won the Miss Asian UCO 2017-18 title.

Also recognized at the recent Miss UCO 2018 pageant were Tarren Land, a freshman interior design major from Enid, first runnerup and Audience Choice Award winner; Kassie Butler, a freshman finance major from Elk City, second runner-up; Grace McKeown, a freshman kinesiology major from Yukon, third runner-up and Miss Congeniality; and Haley Jill McKinzie, a senior early childhood education major from Depew, fourth runner-up.

To be considered for this column, please send achievement announcements and photos to LLynn@Oklahoman.com.

[PHOTOS BY WHITNEY BRYEN, FOR THE OKLAHOMAN] A performer does tricks with a lasso along the Norman Christmas Parade route.

ABOVE: Noble High School students dance with teddy bears in the parade.

Students wave from the back of a float during Norman’s Christmas Parade.

Inflatable characters and presents light up a trailer during Norman’s Christmas Parade.

RIGHT: A horse and buggy travels down Main Street during Norman’s Christmas Parade.

[PHOTO PROVIDED] Yi Wen Wong won the Miss Asian UCO 2017-18 title.

Students dance along the parade route.