Reprint from the Progress Times - January 18, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Parade of Oranges will be a lighted night parade

 

For the first time in its 71-year history, the Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges will host a lighted night parade. The parade will be held Saturday, January 26, beginning at 6 p.m.

Berta Filut, executive director of the Texas Citrus Fiesta, said interest has been running high as word of the plans for a lighted night parade have spread. Already there are 36 float entries and, with recent late inquiries more may join the new attraction.

All floats, even those made of agricultural products, will be outlined in lights. Rope lights, twinkle lights, spotlights, lights of every kind will be used to illuminate the floats, enhanced with glittery paper products and tinsel to reflect light on the floats.

The floats will start lining up at 12 p.m. along Conway Avenue and judging will occur before dark at 4 p.m. before the parade begins down the route.

Each float will follow the centennial theme and represent one of the 10 decades that have passed since Mission was founded. With Mission’s colorful history of missions, irrigation and farming, bandit raids, soldiers along the border, steamboats and trains that brought land speculators from Midwestern states, the possibilities for the float themes are endless. The year or decade represented should be stated on the float so viewers will have an idea of the float’s historical timeline..

The float for Texas Citrus Fiesta Royalty will also be lighted. The 27 duchesses will either be riding on floats representing their communities or in cars bearing lighted signs stating where each Duchess is from, when the city was founded, and what product she represents.

Politicians, dignitaries and representatives from Sister Cities in Mexico will all be lit up. Bands will have lighted strips on their instruments to outline them; bands from Mission, Sharyland and La Joya are expected to participate.

Reserved seating in the downtown area is already filling up with reservations from spectators. Call the Fiesta office at 585-9724 for information to reserve a spot.

As Mission enters its second century, get ready for a new era in Texas Citrus Fiesta parades, as the 71st Parade of Oranges lights the way.