GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - With a flurry of snow, song and twinkling lights, Gridley welcomed the holiday season last Wednesday, December 4^th.

There was some concern about the two events getting rained out, but as fortune would have it, the weather cleared, and the evening temperatures drew what seemed to be a larger than ever crowd of townsfolk out to pack the streets.

Quite a large gathering congregated in front of Orchard Hospital to hear from performers and persons of import before the tree lighting. Musical numbers were provided by the Gridley High School Choir and melodies were sung by Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen. The queens and princesses of the Miss Butte County Scholarship program shined brightly front and center, while members of the Chamber of Commerce, Kari Wheeler and Orchard Hospital’s CEO Steve Stark addressed the public.

Overall, many thanks went out to those in attendance, especially regarding the community and its organization's stellar efforts to welcome and aid the FEMA survivors, now part of our town. Not to mention Orchard’s amazing dietary staff that provided the beautifully decorated sugar cookies for the crowd to munch on. Annette Boone, Person of the Year, whose humanitarian efforts have gone above and beyond as she has organized help for survivors and other community members in need, was asked to speak and light this year's tree. She invited all that had helped Camp Fire survivors to join her at the switch, herself and our community lighting the tree as one.

From there most made their way to downtown, joining the large crowd that had already begun to gather.  By 6:30 the streets were packed with hundreds of revelers and overjoyed children as they played in the snow falling from the windows of Santa’s Workshop (the Gridley Museum), took pictures with Disney Princesses and Olaf, and waited excitedly for the parade of lights to begin. 

The parade kicked off with the honor guard and from there on out, float-after-brilliantly-lit-float came rolling down Hazel St., many throwing candies and some even billowing snow. Announcer Brian Basset kept the pace of the parade going, while a panel of judges ultimately decided who would take home the winning prize. This year's 1st place went to A-Z preschool for its “Frozen” float featuring princess Elsa, 2^nd place to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for its live nativity scene and 3rd to Nachos Electric, with Ignacio’s truck and trailer lit to the max.

After the parade folks continued to enjoy the food vendors, get the opportunity to get pictures with Santa, take the little ones to Santa's workshop inside the Gridley Museum and otherwise enjoy the pleasant evening and allow our small-town holiday spirit to sink in for the season.