Families Line Haddon Ave. for Parade of Lights

A spouting ice machine decorated like a giant wrapped gift rained manufactured snow on the growing crowd outside . The caroling of the Most Precious Blood Parish of West Collingswood choirs filled the street, offset by the low rumble of idling fire engines farther down Haddon Avenue.

“It’s nice to perform at this time,” said director Hung Doan, a machine operator who has led the groups for the past two years. “We appreciate being invited.”

Across the street, Ken and Eileen Steidle, whose family has lived in Collingswood for 11 years, watched as their children, Sophie, 8, and Ean, 6, edged closer to the action. Eileen Steidle considers the “a family tradition” that she and her husband, Ken, look forward to sharing with their annually.

“It gets you in the holiday spirit,” she said.

Families like the Steidles lined the main thoroughfare of Collingswood Friday night to take in the spectacle, which is provided by area fire companies. Children sat on curbs or in folding chairs on the sidewalk, waiting for the paraders on foot to distribute candy canes, and of course, angling for a glimpse of Santa Claus.

Among the more inventive displays was a Star Wars-themed float, the characters upon which were bedecked in holiday-appropriate hats and scarves. A grinning Grinch sped by on an off-road cart hauling an inflatable nutcracker. Numerous elves paraded beside a truck that had replaced its wheels with snowmobile treads for the occasion. Carefully-arranged Christmas lights on one fire engine replicated the American flag; on another, they spelled out “HESS,” as though the oil company had released a life-size version of one of its toy trucks.

“It’s well-done, well-organized,” said Jamie Ortiz, a Collingswod native who returned with his family to watch the festivities.

“We always make the [first] parade,” Ortiz said. “This is our first time making the light show.”

Ortiz gestured to his son, Jamie, 11, and daughter, Arianna, 4. They were sitting with Sydney Sviben, the 5-year-old daughter of his cousin, Michael Sviben. Conferring on the sidewalk, the elder Ortiz and Sviben agreed that the show was “excellent,” and an opportunity for their families to get into the spirit of the season.

“We just went and grabbed our tree tonight,” Jamie Ortiz said. “We’ll be setting it up tomorrow.”

Check back with Collingswood Patch for updates on the float winners as selected by parade organizers.