City crews work to place a large star atop the tree in Centennial Park.
By RENEE WELLS
The Voice
BURLEY – With the help of the Burley Area Merchants’ Association, the City of Burley began a new Christmas tradition Monday evening, with a Light Parade and lighting ceremony, held at Centennial Park, in front of City Hall.
Hundreds of community members confronted extreme cold temperatures and braved the elements to come out to the park, where Christmas Carols were sung and friendships enjoyed while waiting for the city’s first Light Parade to begin.
Local businesses lighted vehicles and floats and drove them down Overland Avenue to Main Street, then they turned up Albion Avenue and returned to 16th Street, passing by Centennial Park twice. Following the parade, the crowd enjoyed donuts, cookies and hot chocolate, donated by local businesses.
In attendance was Burley Mayor Terry Greenman and his family, as well as Cassia County Commissioner Bob Kunau, along with dozens of local families, mostly residents of Burley.
“I thought this event was just wonderful,” Mayor Greenman said.
“It is something we need to build on for next year. I want to open the City Hall so people can go in and get warm and I’d like to see this become a tradition.”
The mayor said that while the country is losing a lot of important traditions, he would like to see Burley build on this event and make gathering to sing Christmas Carols an annual tradition.
“This is a tradition we need to bring back and strengthen,” Greenman said.
Overland Avenue was lined with citizens who came out to watch the parade, which had 14 lighted floats.
BAMA officials were pleased with the turnout at the event.
“I think it was fantastic to have people come out the way they did,” said BAMA President Linda Petersen.
“There was such a sense of warm friendship and camaraderie and that is what we need at this time of year.”
Petersen said they stayed until long after the event ended to take the butane heaters back and there were people lingering and visiting long after the parade was over.
“This is how our community survives – with people supporting businesses and businesses supporting people.”
The Voice photos by Michelle Campbell
Les Schwab decorated one of their trucks for Burley’s First Annual Light Parade.
Idaho Central Credit Union added music to their entry for Burley’s Light Parade, playing Christmas Carols as they made their way down Overland Avenue.
