Christmas parade lights up Portales

With antique trucks, horses wearing Christmas lights, Santa Claus and Nativity scenes, the annual Christmas Jubilee Lighted Parade rolled through Portales Friday night.

For the 24th annual Jubilee, organized by the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce, the weather was breezy and mild.

Chamber Executive Director and Portales Mayor Sharon King said the parade had about 40 entries, an average amount. Three Cannon Air Force Base airmen volunteered to judge the entries on such criteria as creativity and originality.

“It was nice,” attendee Martha Garcia said of the parade. “The weather was good and not too cold.”

Johnny Garcia agreed, saying the weather was perfect and he really enjoyed the parade.

Mackenzie Garcia, 7, also said she liked the parade. She was particularly excited about the horse-drawn stagecoach, running a few steps into the street to watch it come.

King spoke well of this year’s Jubilee.

“I thought it went really well,” she said.

King said she liked the parade, and the turnout was good from what she saw.