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No rain on Marysville's Christmas parade
Rien Pikulik squeezed fists full of Christmas candy inside the sleeves of her winter coat, which was about four sizes too large for her 7-year-old frame.
"It doesn't fit me, but I get to put all the candy in there," Rien explained as a woman in a Santa Claus hat tossed candy canes from a parade float on Saturday in Marysville.
Rien and her brothers, Sebastain and Jacoby, had perfect seats at Sixth and D streets.
The city's parade signals the beginning of the Christmas season for their family.
"We've come every year for at least 11 or 13 years," their father, Joel, said.
Hundreds lined rain-slicked sidewalks in downtown Marysville for the annual Christmas parade many feared would be rained out. But the storm clouds let up just long enough for the 45-minute Christmas celebration.
"The kids were worried. They kept asking every hour all day if we were still going or not," said Phillip Huerta.
Huerta's son, Vincent, was relieved when he finally saw Santa Claus riding atop a Marysville fire truck on the last float in the parade.
"Santa is the hero of Christmas," Vincent explained.
Other young kids, like Marshall Pask, were happy to celebrate the spiritual aspects of the Christmas seas. The 12-year-old Marysville kid has played Joseph for the last few years as part of the United Methodist Church's manger Nativity-themed float.
"It's my favorite holiday," Marshsall said, "because it's Jesus' birthday, but I get all the presents."
Girl Scouts Katerina Willis, Kaitlyn Hodges and Daija Johnson enjoyed singing Christmas carols as they paraded down D Street.
"We're doing 'Joy to the World,' 'Deck the Halls' — just all the Christmas songs that are nice," Daija, 11, said.
They, too, were glad the rain took a break just long enough for the parade. Maybe it was a mini-Christmas miracle?
"My umbrella just broke, too, so it's better," Kaitlyn said.
Meanwhile, young Rien picked up a few more pieces of candy and considered her favorite parts of the parade and Christmas.
"I like watching all the music bands," Rien explained. "I'm getting a violin for Christmas — I hope."
