8 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
LOOK ON THE
BRIGHT SEASIDE
COLIN MURPHEY PHOTOS
LEFT: Santa gets a visitor after the lighting ceremony at the end of the Parade of Lights in Seaside in 2017. RIGHT: Many of the participants in the 2017 Parade of Lights in Seaside were
adorned in elaborate costumes.
Parade of Lights brings special magic to the holiday season Nov. 23
By KATHERINE LACAZE
FOR COAST WEEKEND
F
or anyone looking for a festive
holiday event the Friday eve-
ning after Thanksgiving, Pacific
Power Regional Business Manager
Alisa Dunlap says, “Go to Seaside.”
At 7 p.m., Nov. 23, a Parade of
Lights — featuring spectacular floats,
brightly lit vehicles, and groups of
people embellished with lights or
carrying glow sticks — will wind
through downtown Seaside in what
Chamber of Commerce Director Bri-
an Owen describes as a “community
gathering.”
The annual Parade of Lights, spon-
sored by Pacific Power, is free to the
public, and anyone can participate.
The route takes off from Neca-
nicum Drive at First Avenue and
moves to Holladay Drive. From
there, the parade will advance west
on Broadway to Pocket Park, west
of the Seaside Carousel Mall, where
revelers can enjoy hot cocoa, cider
and cookies while singing carols and
watching the lighting of the com-
munity Christmas tree. As soon as
he finishes the parade route, Santa
Claus will be available to meet with
children and get pictures.
“With Santa Claus and the lighting
of the tree and the caroling and the
parade all in one, it’s one of the most
energetic, romantic events Seaside
puts on,” Owen said. “We really
encourage everybody to be a part of
this program.”
As a member of all the regional
Chambers of Commerce, Dunlap
said, Pacific Power serves as the sig-
nature sponsor for at least one com-
munity event for each. The company