Children aboard the Farmers and Merchants Bank float wave and shout "happy holidays" during the 10th annual Parade of Lights in downtown Lodi on Thursday night. More photos ... (Matthew Landi/News-Sentinel)

Lodi's Parade of Lights shines through the rain

Rain and 50-degree temperatures weren't enough to dampen spirits Thursday night as an estimated 30,000 people lined the streets of downtown Lodi to witness the 10th annual Parade of Lights.

Dark clouds overhead held back their fury until 30 minutes into the incandescent spectacle, when a light sprinkle grew to a steady wind-blown downpour.

But one by one, trucks, cars, tractors, off-road vehicles, a grape harvester, dogs and marching bands — all festooned with thousands of glittery lights — meandered past throngs of parade watchers bundled up against the cold.

Cheryl Olson and her children — Tyler, Kaitlyn, Cameron, Martin and Davy — weren't going to miss this parade, even though the weather forecast did give them second thoughts earlier in the day.

"So we're here getting soaked, but it's worth it," said Olson, sitting in a lawn chair near the start of the parade on Pine Street.

"Christmas Around the World" was the theme this year, and many of the floats carried the flags of the United States, Mexico and other countries, some with riders crooning "Feliz Navidad."

That multicultural spirit captured the attention of Juan Gonzalez, who said he enjoyed the flag-draped floats the most "because they represent all countries."

On School Street, parade watchers took shelter under the awnings of downtown businesses as more than 90 entries paraded past, including a group of Lodi physical education teachers who marched with tennis rackets and athletic equipment covered in tiny glowing bulbs. Bringing up the rear was Santa Claus, riding on a fire engine.

The night's festivities began at the steps of Lodi City Hall with the 13th annual lighting of the Lodi Tree of Lights.

With the flip of a giant switch, strings of lights hanging from the top of the towering evergreen tree in front of city hall began glowing.

Officials with the Downtown Lodi Business Partnership, which organizes the parade, worried the weather would hamper attendance. But lawn chairs began popping up on the rain-soaked sidewalks along the parade route by noon, and those chairs filled with men, women and children by the start of the procession.

Lodi High School freshman Hailey Nantt was looking forward to riding on the Lodi Adopt-a-Child float, which her Interact club worked on for two weeks, when she woke up Thursday morning.

"I've never been on a float before and I was really excited," Nantt said minutes before the parade began. "Then it started raining, and I was like, dang it. Then it stopped raining."

Not for long, though.

Contact reporter Jake Armstrong at jakea@lodinews.com.