Encinitas rings in season with Christmas concert, parade

North County Times – Escondido,CA,USA
ENCINITAS —- Christmas came marching and twirling into
Encinitas as the city hosted a free concert and parade Saturday that
drew cheering crowds to La Paloma …

ENCINITAS —- Christmas came marching and twirling into Encinitas as the city hosted a free concert and parade Saturday that drew cheering crowds to La Paloma Theatre and South Coast Highway 101.

The city-sponsored Christmas concert brought brass, ballet, drama and the angelic voices to the ornate stage of the historic theater.

One of them belonged to Halley Edwards, 10, a member of the Brioso choir of the San Diego North Coast Singers. Halley said she practices by singing along with a CD and that nothing can compare to the thrill of performance.

“I was kind of nervous, but I was really excited,” she said.

Sharing Halley’s excitement was her grandmother, Judy Cunnison, who traveled from Mission Viejo to see the show.

“I’m very proud of her,” Cunnison said. “It’s just nice to see her up there happy and expressing herself.”

Artistic expression and the delight of singing to an audience energizes the young vocalists, said choir director Monica Loebel-Ward.

One thing the children learn is how to draw strength from their nerves.

“Stage fright is a positive thing,” Loebel-Ward said, “because it means you really care.”

Five actors from Moxie Theatre showed they cared during a short play in which cheeky elves tried to comfort a despondent Mrs. Claus.

Liv Kellgren, a founder of the locally based troupe, served as the program’s emcee.

The program “showcased a lot of the talent in Encinitas and let people celebrate the holidays together,” Kellgren said after the show.

Spectator Vivian Doering said it was well worth the trip from Escondido to enjoy the live entertainment.

“I thought it was great just seeing those children and the adults on stage making music for other people to enjoy,” Doering said. “It was a real pleasure.”

As the audience left the theater, more than 80 entrants of the parade gathered on Second Street and D Street before rounding the corner onto the parade route.

A man with the voice of a drill instructor barked at a formation of Camp Pendleton Young Marines.

“I don’t want you dropping flags!” he hollered.

“Yes sir!” his young troops responded.

The rat-tat-tat of drums sounded from the red-capped percussionists of Oak Crest Middle School’s marching band.

Tim Chung, 13, appeared cool and collected with his tenor drum strapped into position.

“We know this by heart,” Tim said.

Equally confident was belly dancer Jennifer Roth, a UCSD administrator, whose miniature bells on flowing veils jingled. So did the her finger cymbals. Another student in Nicki Vaccar’s belly, flamenco and Greek dance class at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center, Rushika Hage, clacked castanets and wore a traditional, yellow dress from Seville.

“They can’t wait to perform,” Vaccar said.

Performance time came soon enough, with fire trucks leading the parade. Riding atop the city’s ladder truck was Encinitas Mayor Christy Guerin and her employer, U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray.

Also riding the fire engines were Councilwoman Maggie Houlihan and Councilman James Bond.

Beaming beneath a black sombrero was Bob Grice, the parade’s grand marshal. A fifth-generation resident of Encinitas, Grice, 86, rode in a 1917 Model T belonging to the San Dieguito Heritage Museum.

The robotic-sounding voices of motorcycle deputies wished spectators a merry Christmas.

Riding atop non-motorized cycles were members of the Alluvial Fan Club.

David Brice, a founder of the club, mounted a 1973 Schwinn Stingray, to which he had rigged a trailer. On top of the trailer rode Cypress Brice, 3, and on another bike rode Salina Brice, 9. The bikes glimmered with garland.

“We decorate and meditate,” David Brice said.