Light up the town: Downtown Auburn parade captivates a festive crowd

People began setting out lawn chairs Friday, staking their claim for a seat along the route for the Festival of Lights Parade. That was a good idea, because Saturday afternoon, Interstate 80 exits had lines of traffic crawling toward downtown. As the sun set on a comfortably cool evening, the parade began its steady flow down Lincoln Way in front of a crowd several rows deep on each side of the street all the way to the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Cell phones captured video, wide-eyed toddlers pointed and others waved as float after float cruised by, each adorned in bright colors of solid, strobe and flashing lights. Kids Closet owner Denise Cardona sat out in front of her business enjoying a cup of hot cocoa after braving the crowd, and struggle, to reach her business. She had just returned from Reno following her daughter's college graduation, plus a trip to purchase credit card machine tape "because we've been so busy" with shoppers "all day long." "Oh my gosh, this is wonderful," Cardona said as the E.V. Cain Middle School band, playing "Joy to the World," marched by. "I got stuck on the other side of the street. My husband (Ed) had to drop me off because we couldn't get close. So I took my life in my hands and crossed the street in front of a Jeep. And I got here and have hot cocoa and I'm safe. I love it. It's great. It's the busiest day of the year." The usual assortment of sights and sounds (sirens, horns, engines) accompanied the constant stream of lights and captured the interest of Janet Kraft's 14-month-old granddaughter, who was bundled up in her mom's arms. "There's lots of lights, bringing the community together," said Kraft, a Grass Valley resident and Auburn business owner who said she used to be in the parade many years ago. April Dobson was seated near Central Square with husband David and their 8-week-old Great Pyrenees, Goose. Preparing to move out of California, she said they didn't want to miss the parade. "I love it. It brings holiday cheer," April Dobson said, noting they've attended the parade for about 10 years. Said David Dobson, "I'm glad everyone is here together and everyone can enjoy life and have fun. Everyone doesn't have to be stressed about anything. We're out here together and we're having a good time."