Press
For immediate release December 21, 2011
For additional information contact Tracie Bennitt 719-641-9541
The 2011 Lighter Side of Christmas Parade Committee would like to thank the volunteers and participants that made this year's "Happy Trails to Christmas" a holiday success! Led by Grand Marshal Mike Smith of Teller County Search & Rescue, this year’s parade was attended by hundreds of holiday cheer participants in chilly downtown Woodland Park on December 3.
Parade trophy winners this year are: Best Use of Lights- WPHS Soccer, Best Use of Theme- Charis Bible College, Most Unique- Teller County Fair Board, Spirit Award-4th Engineer Battalion, and Grand Marshal Award-Gordon Jackson Foundation at Aspen Valley Ranch. Over 40 local businesses, groups and nonprofits participated in this year's very cold parade!
The Crazy Hat Contest, in honor of Mike Williams, was won this year by Elizabeth Summeril and second place to Ariel Summeril. Start thinking of ideas now for your crazy hat for next year’s parade! Thanks to Williams Log Cabin Furniture and Papa Murphy's Pizza for their continued support of this event.
Forty five businesses participated in this year’s Day of Giving promotion to support local small business in Teller County and Teller County Search and Rescue. Over $1000 was raised for TCS&R, this year’s beneficiary. Please ask us how you can participate next year. The winner of the promotional gift basket, full of items from the participating businesses, is Christine Cancino. Congratulations!!
Special Thanks to the City of Woodland Park and city workers, WPPD, CDOT, Pikes Peak Rotary, AJ Hotchkiss and Teller Netcast, John Bennitt, Announcers Chris Konczak, Deb Idleman and Mike Perini, Kerri and Chris Macmillan, Whitney Wyckoff, Northeast Teller Fire Protection District and bum fire volunteers and sponsors, Florissant Fire Department volunteers, Teller County Search & Rescue, Teller County Sheriff’s Department, Summit Singers, Canyon Signs, Craig Harms, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard, Waste Management and Girl Scouts for parade cleanup, Check In Tent and Parade Volunteers, Parade Participants and Parade Attendees.
Next year’s theme is “A Colorado Christmas Cookie Carol” and will honor the 100 year anniversary of Girls Scouts. Start planning now and save the date, Saturday December 1, 6PM, as the parade always falls on the first Saturday in December! Watch for photos and updates at www.lightersideofchristmas.com. Volunteers are welcome to join the committee to help with next year’s event. Contact me at the Dinosaur Resource Center.
Tracie Bennitt
LSOC Parade Chair
719-686-1820 X112