Participants share their first-time experience in Christmas Parade

El Centro held its 72 nd Annual Christmas Parade on Saturday morning.

Thousands of people lined up some of the main streets to watch colorful floats and cheer their local marching bands. We spoke to four participants who were there for the first time. They said they loved it.

Mike Saad, Desert Air Conditioning, said, “We’ve been talking about doing it for the last few years and this year we finally pulled the trigger, and we’re so glad that we did.”

Josefina Valadez, Aria Hospice, said, “We actually very much enjoyed it. My family – all volunteers – we all came together.”

They loved the gathering of community and friends.

Edith Martinez, Meadows Elementary School ASES Drumline and Cheerleaders, said, “It’s awesome! It just brings unity and it shows the students how this season we should all be happy and together and united.”

“We saw a lot of our clients waving at us and cheering us on and that was a really rewarding for us to see so many people that we know and serve,” Saad said.

And they loved the holiday spirit.

“As a community we should come together as family,” Valadez said.

“Christmas is definitely the reason for the season. And we love to celebrate Jesus Christ and his birth,” Saad added.

Most of all, they said they loved it because’ – well – it’s Christmas time!

Alja Galindo, Mid Valley Pop Warner, said, “It’s an important holiday for the kids because they know they need to behave to be able to get all the gifts that they want.”

“Besides the gifts, it means happiness and unity,” Martinez reminded us.