After snooping around one of Santa Claus workshops at Chrome Mafia, Santas elves have uncovered a top-secret operation for the 22nd annual Parade of Lights tonight in Cortez.
Although all elves refused to comment, Chrome Motorcycles Dale McName allowed the Journal to peek inside one of their floats attractions: a school bus painted black thats been tricked out into a custom coach.
McNames ride has been equipped with granite countertops, suede couches, a sound system, an antique barback and three flat-screen televisions.
It took me three years to build this thing, McName says.
While the Chrome Mafias gang will celebrate inside the coach, the bus will tow Santa Claus with a herd of motorcyclists behind him.
Santa and his elves will dole out teddy bears along the route.
KSJD radio has teamed up with School Community Youth Collaborative, or SCYC, to rile parade-goers with another impressive, top-secret float. But Santas elves werent able to unlock their doors to see what was in store for KSJD and SCYCs float.
Were gonna do something really fun and top secret. Its about valuing education, says KSJDs Jeff Pope. Its gonna rock.
Meanwhile, Jenny Pipkin has been leading Kemper Elementary Schools float that will be making a plea to students and parade-goers to help them collect toys for needy children.
Kempers float will feature students filled with the holiday spirit, a Christmas tree and a heap of Santas most precious gifts that have been sent directly from the North Pole. But the presents displayed on their float are strictly on loan from Santas elves.
Were doing the toy drives for our Community Connections theme, says Pipkin, who is leading Kempers students to collect toys throughout the weekend and into the middle of December.
The banners will say Kemper Cares, Kemper Shares, Pipkin says. And the class that brings in the most toys will get a pizza party.
The rest of the parades special surprises are just too hot for the elves to handle.
I got the idea from the Snowdown Parade in Durango, McName says, as a hint to one of Chrome Mafias surprises in tonights Parade of Lights.
Century 21 Realtor Terry McCabe has been leading Cortezs annual Parade of Lights for the past four years.
Ive got 51 entries right now, McCabe says about how many businesses, nonprofits and schools have signed up to march, dance, ride and drive down Main Street.
Four Corners Board of Realtors sponsors the parade as a way to give back to the community, McCabe says.
Its all free to the public and to the people in the parade. All they have to do is bring us their sign-up form, she says.
Four Corners Board of Realtors purchases and awards first-, second- and third-place prizes in each of the categories: commercial, nonprofit and other (including schools).
For more information, call Terry McCabe at 565-8408.
Reach Nathalie Winch at nathaliew@cortezjournal.com.