Leisure World Revelers Put On Holiday Parade

Driving golf carts and pedaling bikes festooned with holiday decorations, seniors toured the streets of Leisure World on Thursday at the second annual Holiday Golf Cart and Bicycle Parade.

In the tradition of Disneyland’s extinct “Main Street Electrical Parade,” 10 electric carts and five cyclists rode the two-mile parade route through Leisure World, waving to residents and spreading holiday cheer.

Both the bikes and carts were decorated from wheel to wheel with Christmas trees, lights, streamers, color and candy canes. Some carts were even accompanied by sound systems that played Christmas carols.

First-time parade participants Marion and Jerry Luck rode on their “Santa Paws Express” golf cart with dogs, Joey and Billy Jack Russell. The Lucks said they signed up to be in the parade for the fun and spirit of the Christmas season.

“We love a parade, and the boys do, too,” Marion Luck, 67, said.

Bicyclists Hal Friedlander, who dressed as Santa, and Gladys Shoberg were two Recyclers Club members who pedaled in this year’s event. Friedlander, who is president of the club, said they plan to get more members involved in the event next year.

“It’s fun,” Friedlander, 82, said. “We’re a very social group. . . . We participate in all the Leisure World events.”

The event started last year after a resident suggested the community needed a Christmas parade, said Leisure World recreation director Debby Lamb. Since then, the response has been great, Lamb said. With more than 600 registered golf carts in Leisure World, the golf cart parade idea was a natural.

“Every year someone else wants to enter,” Lamb said.

Before the parade, the carts and bikes were also judged on a variety of criteria, including most creative, most technical, best audio and funniest. The winners received gift certificates to local restaurants and a movie theater.

For most parade participants, though, winning was not the motivating factor. They were there to enjoy each other’s company and join in the holiday fun.

“We’re celebrating,” Rene Rainey, 60, said from the front seat of her “Candy Cane Express” cart. “We absolutely love living here.”