TOP: A giant infiat*
able wizard, spon
sored by Bryan LGH
hospital and guided
by a group of Harry
Potter characters,
makes its way down
0 Street during the
Star City Parade.
Organizers estimated
thatacrowdof
36,000 to 40,000 was
in attendance for the
Saturday morning
event.
BOTTOM: Elise
Richard, 2, waves to
the Golden Dancers
from the 0 Street
skywalk before the
Star Gty Parade on
Saturday morning.
This was the 16th
year of the parade.
Sharon KoJbet/DN
Alljor the
LittleOnes
Eight youths chosen to judge
this year's Star City Parade
Dr. Seuss would have been proud.
On Saturday morning a three-story tall “Cat in the Hat"
made its way through downtown Lincoln. As the gusty
winds made the storybook character bounce and bob, more
than a dozen balloon handlers had their hands full guiding the large
inflatable figure under O Street traffic lights.
The balloon, sponsored by the Experian company, was just one of
the many attractions at the 16th annual Star City Parade.
This year's parade theme was “Kid Size” and included, for the first
time, a judging panel of kids age 13 and younger. The panel was
selected by a random drawing earlier in the week and included six
youths from Lincoln and two youths selected from Fairbury, this
year’s featured Star Community.
Working at the comer of 10th and O streets, parade worker Cara
Ramsay made sure marching bands didn’t run into parade floats and
that someone was around to clean up after the llamas. Ramsay said
this was her fourth year helping with the parade.
With an estimated 36,000 to 40,000 parade-goers, spectators
were three deep along the parade route. Some parade-watching vet
erans brought chairs to enjoy the hour-long event, and nearly every
one came with a blanket.
“The wind today is chilly, but we have seen much worse." Ramsay
said.
Nearly 3,500 people participated in the parade, though not all of
diem marched on the street
Along the sidewalk there was participation of a different kind.
Lincoln resident, Pam Nelson, 40, wearing pointy ears and a festive
hat held a placard that read “Elves of the World Unite”
Nelson said she arranged the small protest to encourage elfin sol
idarity and to raise awareness of Santa's helpers long hours during
the holiday season. Nelson said she has attended the parade every
year since she moved to Lincoln in 1988.
Back at the comer of 1O^1 and O, Ramsay ushered a group of gold
en retrievers and their owners around the corner and onto the
parade route. As a volunteer from the State Farm Insurance Agency,
Ramsay has braved the elements every year since 1996 to assist with
the event.
“I just love watching the kids and seeing their eyes light up."
Ramsay said. “That’s why I come back here every year.”
Story by Sharon Kolbet
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Nate Wagner/DN
100% of NU students celebrate the end of the semester.
74% of those students arejeali smart
The
majority
of MIJ
students have
5 or fewer drinks
when they party.*
nUDIRECTIOnS
Reducing high-risk drinking... together
