Southwest Cheese takes Best of Show in parade

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

A brightly-lit semi carrying various John Deere tractors moves through the traffic.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Girls from the Pioneer Rodeo Days Queens Association’s Little Buckaroo Rodeo Princess float wave to the crowd at the Christmas Lights Parade on Saturday night.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

It’s all aboard the train at the Candy Land Station, part of a float by Southwest Cheese.

Southwest Cheese is the Best in Show winner of Clovis’ annual Christmas Lights Parade.

Clovis MainStreet Executive Director Lisa Pellegrino-Spear said an estimated 6,000 people turned out Saturday for the parade. That’s about 1,000 more than last year’s crowd estimate.

Pellegrino-Spear said the parade featured about 50 participants, including floats, marching groups and assorted vehicle entries.

Winners:

Best in Show: Southwest Cheese

Automobile

• 1 — Ray Lee Equipment

• 2 — Wood Equipment

• 3 — American Legion Post 25

Small floats

• 1 — Fraternal Order of Eagles 3245 - Juniors

• 2 —The Children’s Center

• 3 — Clovis Gymnastics

Large floats

• 1 — Xcel Energy

• 2 — AM Vets Post 14

• 3 — Girl Scouts Troop 267

Marching/walking

• 1 — Clovis High School marching band

• 2 — Clovis Municipal Schools dance teams

• 3 — Freshman/middle schools marching bands