The mayor and other local personalities opened up the afternoon with a brief speech and prayer, and the evening kicked off with a bright and boisterous parade as the sun went down at 7:00pm; Equipped with lights, Saint Nick hats and cameras, people lined the streets in anticipation.

While papier-mache giants spun at the vanguard, shooting rockets into the sky, marching bands glittered and kept a steady rhythm, dancers broke out the jams.

Standing, sitting, cheering and clapping, attendees reached out their hands to santa to get a hold of a toy or treat when he passed; Many sang along when the world-famous “Feliz Navidad” echoed from the speakers of cars and floats alike.

Young and young at-heart both had immovable smiles throughout the procession. Dwarves, Santas, and Mrs. Santas joined together with kids of all ages to hand out candy and small toys to the crowd's outstretched arms.

The fun didn't stop at the parade, though. Following the conclusion of the march, a band took the stage on the park and indulged the crowd in some latin-flavoured tunes, while folks lit and launched chinese lanterns into the sky, leaving points of red and orange in the sky above.

The concert continued through the night, up into the midnight hour, while revellers danced the night away the dancers, band members, and other marchers were treated to a pre-packaged dinner.  The number of faces with smiles of all sizes was significant.

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