WAIMEA — The best thing about Saturday night is that it’s $Free99, said Esther Estes, the chairperson for the Waimea Christmas Light Parade that is scheduled to get underway from 6:15 p.m. at the Waimea Canyon Park, and Waimea Canyon Middle School parking lots.
Dave Walker, a retired fire fighter, the Waimea High School track and field coach for a number of years and leading the Menehune 4×100 Relay teams to state titles, will be the parade’s grand marshal, lording over the sparkling, glittering caravan of brilliantly lit floats and parade units.
“We don’t really have a yearly theme,” Estes said. “Each float has its own theme. But the one thing they have in common is lights — lots of lights! This year, we have the return of the P &P (Paddie Boy and Pinky?) Malama float that is organized by their grandkids.”
Estes, chairing the parade for the past six years, said the parade is just about community.
“The specialness of parade night is that it really is about community,” she said. “We are on the floats, walking units, band units, and we are also on the sidelines as spectators. Parade entries, which is totally free to enter, are still coming in, but that’s alright — the more, the merrier. We’re all ohana, here.”
The parade, celebrating its 24th year since starting in 1994, is the West Kauai Professional and Business Association’s way of helping the local businesses, financially, one more time before the year ends.
“Who cut the grass?” Eric Nordmeier, president of the WKPBA, said, Monday evening as he strolled the sidewalks, inspecting for safety concerns for spectators. “The county owns the field where Waimea High School athletics practice, and the state has jurisdiction over the highway. Someone cut the grass — it was beginning to look like a wheat field. Whoever did it, thank you because that’s where spectators sit.”
Estes said all over the Waimea town, food establishments will be open to the public. Select nonprofit organizations like the Waimea Project Grad will also be selling food items as a fundraiser.
“More and more we are starting to see pop-up tables along the parade route selling food items,” Estes said. “But we are reminding these vendors that they need a food permit to sell food to the public. These credentials should be available for inspection, otherwise, they are at risk of being shut down.”
At Hofgaard Park, the parade’s end, more excitement fills the evening.
“I have an awesome team of volunteers, and that makes it so much fun and easy,” Estes said. “We especially enjoy seeing all the happy children’s faces as the parade rolls down the street.
“At Hofgaard Park, the free entertainment gives the adults a chance to let loose and dance their stresses away before the year ends. Everything that is served in the refreshment tent is donated by our local businesses — especially the delicious popcorn from Corteva and Hartung Brothers. It’s a win-win all around.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
