Parade float numbers down, but attendance high

CLOVIS — Float entries for this year’s Clovis and Portales Christmas parades were down by nearly two-thirds each, but public attendance was observed to be high in the pandemic-friendly conditions.

“We were incredibly surprised with the enormous turnout,” Clovis MainStreet Director Lisa Pellegrino-Spear told The News. “Over the recent years we have seen a substantial growth of the Christmas parade but we never anticipated that this year we would see such an incredible turnout.”

Road Department staff and the Clovis Police Department were on site to help manage traffic congestion as wait times increased, which Pellegrino-Spear said, “is a positive sign for our community, it shows that not only does Clovis support our parade but that our community is in need of opportunities to celebrate and come together as a community.”

Due to the nature of a stationary parade and health and safety concerns, some of the traditional fixtures of the parade were unable to participate in full. Notably the marching bands were unable to march, and walking entries and the equestrian representatives were absent, which contributed to the decrease in floats.

Southwest Cheese won Best of Parade with a float decorated in the style of the parade’s theme, “The Nightmare Before a Clovis Christmas.” The float featured a moving sleigh with characters from the Disney film “The Nightmare Before Christma” The float featured characters Jack Skellington, his dog Zero, and Sally. The characters Oogie Boogie, Lock, Shock and Barrel were also featured on the float and threw fake snow on drivers-by.

Other parade winners included:

Large float: 1. Southwest Cheese; 2. Dairy Farmers of America; 3. Cummins Natural Gas Engines

Small float: 1. Mental Health Resources; 2. Brickstreet Players; 3. Farmers Electric Co-op

Automobiles: 1. Flores Towing; 2. Curry County Jeep Junkies; 3. Western Equipment

Marching/Walking/Riding: 1. Clovis Middle Schools marching bands; 2. Clovis High School marching band; 3. CMS dance teams

Portales Light Parade: Business, Prestige Carpets; Church, Portales Church of God; Non-profit, VFW Post 9515.