(La Porte, IN) - A good sized crowd braved the first wintry-like conditions of the season for the annual Santa Parade in La Porte on Saturday.

 

Josh Corey and his family helped stay warm with a fire inside a barbecue grill fueled by charcoal and pieces of wood in front of his home along the parade route on State St. near the courthouse.

 

“It’s chilly.  It is chilly,” he said.

 

Santa Claus in 20 degree temperatures waved to onlookers from a sleigh attached to a team of robotic reindeer with Christmas lights draped over them.

 

Through a microphone, Santa Claus also greeted the crowd verbally with well wishes for the season along with his familiar bellowing of “ho, ho, ho.”

 

“The kids just really seem to love it,” said Karen Vandervelden, who helped create the unit Santa rode on during the parade.

 

The parade later ventured down Michigan Ave. then Lincolnway before ending at Plaza 618 where a long line of children with their parents waited to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus inside their chalet.

 

There was also a lighting of the city’s official Christmas tree at the plaza at Lincolnway and Monroe St.

 

Among the most popular of the 30 or so units in the parade consisted of two three wheeled go carts powered by lawn mower engines zig zagging their way along the route.

 

“It’s like being a kid on a big wheel,” said Kip Piper, president of the Michigan City-based Guardian Riders organization.

 

Among the dignitaries in the parade was State Representative Jim Pressel of Rolling Prairie, who walked the parade route with a pair of artificial reindeer antlers on his head.

 

“It’s really nice seeing Santa during the parade,” he said.

 

Helping to lead the way in the parade was LaPorte County Sheriff Ron Heeg, who seemed to take delight in waving to the crowd.

 

“To see the kids smile as you’re going by and waiting for Santa is what it’s all about,” he said.

 

LaPorte High School sophomore Bella Stroud rode in the parade on a horse wearing candy cane striped wraps she placed around the ankles on his front legs.

 

Stroud rides the chestnut colored American Quarter Horse, “Bo,” in other parades and shows him during 4-H and other youth competitions during the year.   She said the horse can get a bit antsy during parades but she knows how to settle him down.

 

“You just talk to him and you stay calm and just give him some love and he does pretty good,” she said.