Chamber wants to bring back Christmas Parade

Santa's Layover will return as well

Posted

    Judy Franz and the Chamber Page/Lake Powell want to turn Lake Powell Boulevard into Santa Claus Lane. At least for one night in December.

    For years the Lake Powell Christmas Parade was the biggest event in the Page, Lake Powell area. Crews upon crews of captains, deckhands and their eager volunteers pimped out dozens of houseboats and paraded them from Wahweap Bay to the Glen Canyon Dam. Thousands of spectators watched from their cars parked on Lakeshore Drive.

    For years it was the Christmas equivalent of the Balloon Regatta, drawing in hordes of locals and tourists alike. But for whatever reasons, Page’s favorite tradition faded out of style.

    But Franz wants to bring it back. Just substitute Lake Powell Boulevard for Lake Powell.

    “People have been asking us for years to bring back the Christmas Parade,” said Franz, Executive Director for the Chamber Page/Lake Powell. “The yearly Christmas Parade, with the houseboats that Aramark used to put on, was one of the highlights of the year.”

    She believes that the creative people and businesses of Page could turn the new Christmas Parade into something just as amazing as the old one.

    “This could be so much fun, but we need the community to get behind it,” she said. “I want the people of Page to throw it all in this year and see what we can do.”

    The parade is open to businesses, organizations, families and individuals to join.

    “If you have a boat, decorate your boat,” said Franz. “Decorate your motorhomes and your ATVs. Decorate your tractor or Jeep. If your family or your kids want to dress up and walk along in it, then do it. I want to see carolers, church groups, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. I’d like to see the high school cheerleaders and the marching band.  I just want to see how creative this town can get.”

    Franz got the desire to host a Christmas parade last December when a Phoenix TV station showcased several Arizona small towns and their various Christmas parades. As she watched she thought, “Page could do that, and even better.”

     And when it happens Franz will invite the same TV station to visit Page to include our festive town on their yearly Christmas segment.

    Franz says she’d particularly like to see Page businesses get involved, and would especially  encourage our many local tour companies to decorate their various tour vehicles.

    Whether it’s a Humvee, kayak, Jeep, raft, paddleboard or bicycle she wants to see Page’s varied tourist crafts displayed on statewide TV.

    Any business or person who wants to enter the Christmas Parade must register with the Chamber by Dec. 11 so they can create the line-up. There is no entry fee.

    The fifth annual Santa’s Layover will also be returning this year on Dec. 9. It will be held at the airport again. It will include 20 vendors. It will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa Claus will be there from noon to 2 p.m. and he’ll be available for kids to sit on his lap and get their photos taken with him.

    Santa’s Layover also includes an auction that raises money for Coconino Community College with the intent of creating a $1,000 scholarship to be given to a local student.

   If you have items you’d like to include in the auction email Judy Franz. Her email is judy @pagechamber.com.