Block Party

One day out of the year, six blocks along C Street in downtown come alive with winter-land whimsy.

Kids toting candy canes dance in the streets. Holiday music blares from sparkling cars and trucks. And neighbors huddle together lining the curbs, sharing in the spirit of the season.

More than 13,000 people watched as 80 community groups from throughout Ventura County paraded from 9th to 3rd streets Saturday morning in the sixth annual Hometown Holidays Parade, sponsored by the Oxnard Conference and Visitors Bureau and organized by the Downtown Oxnard Merchants Assn.

“This is what really starts the Christmas season for me, and it’s so neat to see the whole town together,” said resident Martha Garcia, who came early with her two children to snag a good viewing spot.

Though the merchant-organized parade began just six years ago, Garcia recalls a longer tradition of attending Christmas parades in downtown Oxnard.

“I can remember coming to the parade when I was a kid,” she said. “I don’t think it’s changed all that much.”

“I like the floats,” said her 7-year-old daughter, Monique, who wore a floppy, green-striped elf’s hat.

Entries in the parade--whose theme was “Millennium Magic”--included the vintage farm equipment of the Topa-Topa Flying Wheelers Tractor Club, high school marching bands, youth groups, local cultural clubs and religious organizations.

The Oxnard Council of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s charity group, was trying for a “three-peat” of first place for its float, which offered the message, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” The float was of a stable and three wise men following a bright star.

Also participating were Spanish-language radio stations, mariachi groups and traditional Mexican dancers. Shouts of “Feliz Navidad” were as common as “Merry Christmas” and one Santa Claus wore a sombrero.

The purpose of the parade is to bring people back to the city’s struggling downtown corridor, said Carol Lavender, executive director of the city-funded conference and visitors bureau.

She said her office markets the parade in conjunction with the Plaza Park tree lighting, which occurred Friday night, and the Parade of Lights next weekend in Channel Islands Harbor.

“This is what the business community has done to bring people downtown so they can see what’s here,” said Joe Kennedy, president of the downtown merchants’ group and owner of Kennedy’s Photography for 23 years. “Plus, it’s tradition.”

Though Becky Hull has lived in Oxnard for 15 years, she sheepishly admitted that Saturday was the first time she has attended the Christmas parade. But it’s clear it will be a tradition in her family from here on out.

“It’s fantastic--I just love the hometown feel,” she said.

Hull came this year to watch her son, a member of Santa Clara High School’s championship cross-country team, ride in the parade.

“I even lived a block away for seven years,” said Lynn Schettler, whose daughter, a cheerleader, was riding on the school’s float with Hull’s son. “I can’t believe we never came before. It’s wonderful.”