The tree-lined sidewalks of Mill Avenue twinkled Saturday night, illuminating the street for the opening of the APS Fantasy of Lights parade.
Estimated tens of thousands of spectators turned out for the parade, according to managers of the Mill Avenue District with the Downtown Tempe Community, Inc. The parade began on Third Street and winded to an end in front of Centerpoint Plaza on Seventh Street.
Festivities such as street entertainers, a tree-lighting ceremony, the arrival of Santa Claus and a fireworks display were part of the celebration for the 13th annual parade, which marks the beginning of the holiday season for many residents.
Stan "Santa" Dale of Scottsdale made his first appearance as the parade's resident Kris Kringle last year but has been doing Santa Claus appearances around the Valley since 1999.
"I've always been told I look like Santa, but becoming him was actually a goof," Dale said. "I had rented a suit as a joke to ride around on my motorcycle when I burned it on the exhaust and had to buy it. I figured since I already had a suit I would just get into it each year more and more."
His Santa Claus wardrobe has expanded to three suits in order to cover all of his bookings during the holiday season, but he said the parade still remains one of his favorite events.
"I like seeing all the kids happy and waving during the parade," he added.
Dale said his role in the parade is more fun than anything, as he gets to take part in the tree-lighting ceremony and meet with kids for pictures afterward.
"I had one boy this year ask me for an airport," he said. "I wasn't sure I had understood him, and his parents couldn't explain it either, but he said he liked planes, so an airport made sense."
Vick Linoff, owner of Those Were The Days!, a book and antique shop along Mill Avenue, said the parade has always been a wholesome community event and good for business.
"It's nice to have a lot of people downtown, but it certainly adds to a more hectic time than it would normally be," he added. "But when you get this many people, you are ultimately giving exposure to your business whether it be tonight, tomorrow or some other day."
Linoff has owned the store for 34 years, and said he remembers the parade's first few years when it consisted of only a few floats and "a couple of light bulbs."
"The parade has grown to have elements like a big city parade — kind of a small scale Macy's Day Parade at night, while at the same time still very family-oriented," he said.
But for some families, like the Carpenters of Phoenix, the parade was a new experience. Favorite floats among the family included Valley real-estate developer Michael Pollack's lighted train float and a car that was made to look like a Tonka truck.
"This was just such a nice surprise for our first parade," said mom Paula Carpenter. "It was very hometown feeling and I'm sure we will come out again next year."
Reach the reporter at: kendall.wright@asu.edu.
