Lighted Truck Parade a dazzling success
Neither rain, nor wind, nor COVID-19 stayed the Fort Bragg Annual Lighted Truck Parade this year — though it certainly made for a bit of a soggy Santa.
Under the guidance of Mendocino County’s Health Officer, Dr. Andy Coren, the annual holiday parade went through a new route this year, with many precautions in place for keeping the crowds safe. Most notably, onlookers were encouraged to line the route with their cars and stay inside their vehicles as the fantastical floats and lighted trucks wound their way down Main Street.
The parade was staged — and started on — the west side of Cypress Street at 6:30 p.m., near the south entrance to Noyo Headlands Park, though spectators started lining the route as much as an hour earlier. Multiple local agencies came together to help temporarily block intersections as the floats drove through, said Fort Bragg Police Chief John Naulty.
At the intersection of Cypress and S. Main streets, f loats turned left onto Main and continued north through town to W. Elm Street, where the parade ended.
Because of the limitations on gatherings, the city did not host a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony this year, but the tree is on display on the lawn of the Guest House Museum.
However, the Fort Bragg’s Fire Department did host a Drive-thru Candy Cane Run and canned food drive earlier in the day on Saturday, at the Fort Bragg Fire Station.
This year, the parade entry fee was waived and registration was thrown open to anyone wishing to participate. The only requirement was to just show up at the Noyo Headlands Park around 5:30 p.m. All motorized equipment operators were required to carry a fire extinguisher and no parade participants were allowed to hand out flyers or throw candy.
Though it was a shorter, more direct route for the parade than in previous years, and under very different circumstances, that didn’t stop the parade’s volunteers from coming out in droves. Many were first-time participants and parade officials said there were many more trucks and cars than they
had anticipated.
Perhaps most notable were the floats from Fort Bragg High School’s sophomore, junior and senior classes: In a toned- down school year where students aren’t getting much of a chance to shine, it was all hands on deck for the floats of the class of 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“We get to participate in this one thing,” said senior Briana Ferguson. “I’m really surprised the city still did it, but it’s a nice little thing for the seniors.”
Calling themselves the “jolly juniors,” FBHS junior Jacie Clavelle said they were “all just trying to make the best of it.”
The classes chose classic holiday movies to theme their floats on, including Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, the
animated classic Rudolph, and the senior’s float was themed after 2004’s The Polar Express.
“I’m just happy we’re doing it, we got a great turn out,” said City Manager Tabatha Miller. “Everyone is staying in their cars and staying safe.”
Families — especially those with small children — lined the streets and waved as the floats went by. The parade was a little faster than usual, some said, but it was cheery all the same.
“Everyone’s effort was inspiring. There was a lot of participation,” said J.R. Lane, of Comptche, who was there with his son Max, 2, and Max’s mom, Maia. “And it always rains a lot, so this was a lot cozier way to watch it.”