Parade Opens Season Of Warmth, And Elf Is Ready Lakeland Seniors’ Float A Winner, Trembles And All
Sarah Warner didn’t realize just how chilly a proposition ushering in Coeur d’Alene’s Christmas season could be.
Of course, wearing a nightgown and pointed ears wasn’t exactly the ideal garb for that kind of work. But, it was all for a good cause.
The Lakeland High School senior - turned Christmas elf - huddled under a sleeping bag as she waved to the mob of spectators watching her and her class float roll by Friday night.
The seventh annual Festival of Lights Parade was winding its way through downtown, bringing with it an official start to Coeur d’Alene’s Christmas season.
“It’s freezing,” Warner said with a smile as she sat amid the fake living room scene that made up Lakeland High School’s senior float, “Babes in Toyland.”
Students made up to look like Raggedy Ann and a Jack in the Box handed out candy canes and fliers.
They hoped to help raise money for their alcohol-free graduation party.
“I think it’s important for us to have a non-alcoholic party after graduation,” Warner said. “We want to have as many people as possible at our reunion. We don’t want to lose them graduation night.”
Their float - complete with toys, Christmas tree and a fake flaming fireplace that didn’t put out a bit of heat for Warner - won $40 and the prize for most original.
The sound of Christmas carols competed with the din of marching bands as 28 brightly lit parade entries lit up the night.
At The Coeur d’Alene Resort on Friday morning, another Christmas kickoff was under way - the eighth annual Festival of Trees.
Amid the sweet aroma of freshly cut pine trees, businesses and civic groups gave 40 Christmas trees the dressing up of their lives.
The elaborately decorated trees will be auctioned off to raise money to make an interactive video system to connect Kootenai Medical Center to the other North Idaho hospitals, said Jim Faucher, KMC vice president of community development.
Some trees go for more than $3,000.
Busy workers layered the trees with angels, stuffed animals, bows and baubles.
One tree decorated to the theme “There’s no place like home” came with ruby red slippers, a lion, tin man and Dorothy. Not to mention a golden swath of ribbon to look like a yellow brick road.
Rather than spend lots of money on decorations, the tree sponsored by First Security Bank was instead flecked with $75 checks to numerous local charity groups.
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