Christmas Parade 2017

Chilly and rainy weather was on the schedule for the Harper Creek Optimist Club’s 38^th annual Christmas parade, but it didn’t seem to distract parade participants and spectators from joining in with the holiday cheer for the spectacular event. There were 84 entries on the program and all but a few decided to compete with the inclement weather. The theme this year was “Unwrap the Magic” and a number of the entries appeared to do just that. The Harper Creek Optimist Club selected Donna Jean Hazel as the Grand Marshall for this year’s parade. Donna is very active with numerous volunteer organizations and has been a great ambassador for our community. She recently retired from owning Jim Hazel’s Citgo and as office manager at the Battle Creek Shopper News after 50 years. Her late husband (Jim) was also great supporter of our community and an active long-time Optimist Club member. Our club extends a special thanks to club member James Demarest for his countless volunteer hours involved with chairing the event and also to club members who volunteered their time on a not so comfortable weather accommodating evening. Colorful lights mixed with rain, marching band music and the holiday spirit provided by those in attendance was a perfect formula for this year’s parade.

Every year there are honorary awards/plaques issued to participants in the parade for various categories. All parade entries are judged by a panel of Optimist members an hour before the parade kicks off with respect to the category they may qualify for. Those meeting the time deadline are analyzed and the awards are issued to the winners just before they prepare for their parade voyage. A banner designating their winning award is carried just in front of their parade entry. This year the banners were carried by members of the Harper Creek Competitive Cheer Team under the direction of Jessica Davis. This year’s award winners are pictured below along with their designated banner and Harper Creek Optimist Club President Dustin King presenting their winning plaque.

International Award (best use of holiday lighting): Wicked Jeeps West Michigan

Judge’s Award (non-profit – best interpretation of theme): Harper Creek Middle School Girl Scout Troop #80268

Sweepstakes Award (commercial – best interpretation of theme): Sunshine Toyota- Santa Float – with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Grand Marshal’s Award (best overall entry): Jaqua Realtors

President’s Award (most unique interpretation of the theme): IBEW Local 445

Fantasy Award (best use of music & animation): Battle Cree Elks #131

Thad Harding Memorial (parade participation longevity): Harper Creek Marching Band

Our club selected Donna Jean Hazel as Grand Marshal for this year’s parade.

The community was presented with music entertainment during the parade from four local high school marching bands. Pictured below are some of the participating musicians and their band directors receiving an honorary plaque from Optimist Club President Dustin King.

Harper Creek High School Marching Band

Lakeview High School Marching Band

Battle Creek Central High School Marching Band

St. Philip High School Marching Band

Pictured below are some of the floats and participants that represented entries in this year’s parade.

The Optimist International motto is “Friend of Youth” and our club was happy to see so many smiling faces on the youth that endured the nasty November weather and participated in our annual Christmas Parade.

 

 

Christmas Parade 2016

On a chilly and snowy November 19^th   evening The Harper Creek Optimist Club provided the Battle Creek community with its 37^th annual Holiday/Christmas Parade. There were 96 entries in this year’s event and it was well attended with spectators lining the streets. The theme this year was “The Bells of Christmas” and besides holiday bells, wedding bells were also present as Grand Marshals Phil J. O’Reilly and Jessie Schuemann exchanged wedding vows following the Harper Creek Marching Band leading off the parade with a rendition of the “Wedding March”. Our club extends a special thanks to club member James Demarest for his countless volunteer hours involved with chairing the event and also to club members who volunteered their time on a not so comfortable weather accommodating evening. Colorful lights mixed with falling snow, marching band music and a holiday spirit made a perfect recipe for this year’s parade.

Every year there are honorary awards/plaques issued to participants in the parade for various categories. All parade entries are judged by a panel of club members an hour before the parade kicks off. Unfortunately entries that are not lined up by the hour deadline do not qualify for awards. Those meeting the deadline are analyzed and the awards are issued to the winners just before they prepare for their parade voyage. This year’s winners are pictured below with Harper Creek Optimist President Dustin King carrying their winning banners:

International Award (best use of holiday lighting): Harper Creek Girl Scout Troop #80268

Judge’s Award (non-profit – best interpretation of theme): Iron Horse Riders Group

Sweepstakes Award (commercial – best interpretation of theme): Lakeview Ford-Lincoln

Grand Marshal’s Award (best overall entry): “Towing Mater” by Stan Lassen Auto

President’s Award (most unique interpretation of the theme): Battle Creek Regional History Museum

Fantasy Award (best use of music & animation): Winter Wonderland (Mishawaka, IN)

Thad Harding Memorial (parade participation longevity): NorthPoint Woods

The community was presented with music entertainment during the parade from four local high school marching bands. Pictured below are some of the participating musicians and their band directors receiving an honorary plaque from Optimist Club President Dustin King.

Our club selected as Grand Marshals for this year’s parade the wedding couple: Phil J. O’Reilly and Jessie Schuemann. They presented on their own float, which also accommodated the wedding party.

Pictured below are some of the floats and participants that represented entries in this year’s parade.

Even the chilly snowy weather brought out holiday smiles from youth participating in this year’s parade and Santa with Mrs. Claus made their traditional presence.

Optimist club member Jeff Adams provided some pictures and video of the parade line-up taken from a drone prior to the start of the event.

Click to view: Parade Drone Video

 

Christmas Parade 2015

On a very snowy November 21^st   evening The Harper Creek Optimist Club provided the Battle Creek community with its 36^th annual Holiday/Christmas Parade. Due to the forecasted all day snowstorm, entries were down and those lining the streets were not as abundant as years past; some local areas had as much as 12 inches of snow by the time the parade kicked off. Even so, participants and spectators again enjoyed a spectacular event ushering the Holiday Season to the Battle Creek community. Colorful lights mixed with falling snow, marching band music and a holiday spirit were delivered by numerous colorful animated floats.

Every year there are honorary awards/plaques issued to participants in the parade for various categories. All parade entries are judged by a panel of club members an hour before the parade kicks off. Unfortunately entries that are not lined up by the hour deadline do not qualify for awards. Those meeting the deadline are analyzed and the awards are issued to the winners just before they prepare for their parade voyage. This year’s winners in regards to our theme “A night at the North Pole” are pictured below with Harper Creek Optimist President Howard King carrying their winning banners:

International Award (best use of holiday lighting): Learning Zone

Judge’s Award (non-profit – best interpretation of theme): First Wesleyan Church

Sweepstakes Award (commercial – best interpretation of theme): Binder Park Zoo

Grand Marshal’s Award (best overall entry): Lakeview Ford

President’s Award (most unique interpretation of the theme): Winter Wonderland

Fantasy Award (best use of music & animation): Girl Scout Troop #80268

Thad Harding Memorial (parade participation longevity): Sunset Cruisers Car Club

The community was presented with music entertainment during the parade from the five local high school marching bands. Pictured below are some of the participating musicians and their band directors receiving an honorary plaque from Optimist Club President Howard King.  

Our club selected philanthropic Preston and Marge Kool as Grand Marshall’s for this year’s parade. Preston is a former Mayor of Battle Creek and their countless benevolence to the Battle Creek community will be cherished forever.

Pictured below are a few of the snow covered parade entries just before they entered onto the parade route, which started at 5:45 PM.

Even the snowy cold weather brought out holiday smiles from youth participating in this year’s parade and Santa with Mrs. Claus made their traditional presence.

The Harper Creek Optimist Club could not present this event to the community without the volunteer service of club members. Pictured below are some of those members who help make this year’s parade another successful Optimist civic project.

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS PARADE 2014
On a chilly and damp November 22^nd evening our Optimist Club provided the Battle Creek community with its 35^th annual Holiday/Christmas Parade. Inclement weather days prior to the event forced a few of the parade entrants to cancel, but 100 parade entries participated in the community event and a well-attended array of spectators witnessed the spectacular event. Colorful lights, marching band music and a holiday spirit were delivered by a multitude of colorful animated floats.

Every year there are honorary awards/plaques issued to participants in the parade for various categories. All parade entries are judged by a panel of club members an hour before the parade kicks off. They are analyzed and the awards are issued to the winners just before they prepare for their parade voyage. This year’s winners in regards to our theme “Christmas Remembered” are the following:

International Award (best use of holiday lighting): Generation’s Salon

Judges Award (non-profit – best interpretation of theme): Greater Battle Creek Ice Hockey Association

Sweepstakes Award (commercial – best interpretation of theme): Binder Park Zoo

Grand Marshalls Award (best overall entry): Girl Scout Troop 80268 (Wattles Park)

President’s Award (most unique interpretation of the theme): Battle Creek Elks #131

Fantasy Award (best use of music & animation): Lakeview Ford

Spirit Award (most enthusiastic participation): Sunset Cruisers Car Club

Thad Harding Memorial (parade participation longevity): American Legion Post #54

Band Participation: Pictured below are band directors accepting their participation plaques – in the following order: Pennfield High School, Harper Creek High School, Lakeview High School, Battle Creek High School and St. Phil High School

Our club appropriately selected as Grand Marshalls for this year’s parade Fred and Patty Meyer. They recently retired as long-time owners of Meyer’s Toy World; a local established that offered toys of all varieties to our community for all ages. The most appropriate youth Christmas toy could always be found at their store. They are pictured below on their float with their honorary plaque.

Pictured below is collection of colorful floats that were in this year’s parade:

There were many holiday spirited participants of all ages in this year’s parade as you can tell by the following pictures:

Pictured below are a few of the Harper Creek Optimist Club members who volunteered their time on a chilly Saturday so our club could provide another successful event for the community:

 

Presented by
The Harper Creek Optimist Club 
Saturday, November 22, 2014  6:00PM
Downtown Battle Creek, Michigan

Our Club is proud to announce that Fred & Patty Meyer, long-time owners of the local Meyers Toy World, will serve as Grand Marshals for this years parade.