Lighted Christmas parade winners announced
By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce hosted and organized the 28th annual Krist Kindl Markt at City Park last weekend, featuring the return of the Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday evening.
Parade participants began in the Copperas Cove High School cafeteria parking lot and made their way down Avenue D, showing off their decorated vehicles, decorated floats and sharing their holiday spirit with hundreds of residents who lined the road. The parade ended at the Cove Terrace Shopping Center parking lot.
The Copperas Cove Police Department led the way with flashing lights and sirens with the Grinch in handcuffs. Towards the end of the parade, Santa Claus made his appearance, asking little boys and girls in the crowds whether they’ve been good this year and waving to young and old friends alike.
This year, more than 33 different businesses, student clubs and organizations and local entities entered into the parade to compete in a total of six categories.
The first place winner for Large Float was the CCHS FFA. Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful nabbed second place in that category.
In the Small Float category, the Scouts BSA Troop 258 Pack 258 nabbed first place with their Polar Express float. Cove Blue Santa took second place in the same category.
In the Performing Group category, the Copperas Cove High School Copperettes took first place, and the S.C. Lee Cougarettes went home with second place.
The CCHS HOSA chapter won first place in the Civic category with their float, and the Hill Country Bulldogs Football took second place.
In the Commercial category, Copperas Cove Nursing and Rehab won first place, while San Miguel Mexican Restaurant received second place.
For the Driving/Walking Group category, the Girl Scouts of Central Texas Troop 6226 took home first place, and the 190 Jeeps earned second place.
For some families lined along Avenue D, this parade is a decades long tradition. Although the time of the parade might have changed in recent years, the magic of the lights and decorated floats remained the same.
Katrina Moore brought her boyfriend and her daughters to the parade. She said she has been coming to the parade her whole life and remembers being in the parade as a child.
“It’s tradition for us,” Moore said. “It’s Christmas magic, carrying it onto the next generation.”
She said that her favorite part of the parade was seeing how much the kids loved the different floats.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she added. “I’m glad they started doing it at night so that we have lights.”
Brothers D’Angelo, 11, and Jeremiah Gonzales , 10, said they thought it was awesome. D’Angelo said he especially liked the free candy that parade participants passed out.
“I love the parade. It’s very decorative, very expressive. Everyone’s celebrating the holiday,” Jeremiah said.
This was the first year attending the parade for Debra Dawson as well. She parked her vehicle along Avenue D and watched the parade from her trunk with her three English Bulldogs named Charlie, Ranger and Miss Wanda.
“It’s fun. It’s very nice. It’s a nice showing of different people and things around town that I didn’t even know [Copperas Cove] had, so this is great,” Dawson said. She added that she really enjoyed the lights and the music with each float, as well as just mingling with neighbors.
Parade entries include: the 1st CAV Band, CCA Cheer and Dance, VFW Post #8577 Cub Scout Troop 251, Domino’s Pizza, CC Jr. Bulldogs, Cove Blue Santa, Exhale Massage Therapy and Wellness, S.C. Lee Cheer, National Art Honor Society, CCHS Step Team C Zeta Phi, Copperas Cove High School Career and Tech Students, Citizens Fire and Public Safety Volunteer Association, Mae Stevens Puppy PTO, City of Copperas Cove Police Department, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 254 Jeeps, This Side Lawn Care and Moving Co.,GymKix, Copperas Cove Futbal Club, VFW Post #8577, BSA Troop 224, Bill’s Towing and Storage, MOC Military of Cooties, VFW Post #8577 Auxiliary, RD Guns, City of Copperas Cove Animal Control, CCJHS Cheer and Starlettes Dance Team and Legacy Martial Arts.