With the Christmas season just beginning, Santa Claus kept a high profile Friday in Oklahoma City, kicking off the seventh annual Downtown in December celebration by helping light the SandRidge Christmas Tree and riding a boat in the Devon Energy River Parade.
The Oklahoma City Christmas tree is lit Friday in Bricktown in Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
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A group of about 700 revelers gathered across from the AT&TBricktown Ballpark on Mickey Mantle Drive in Bricktown in anticipation of the tree lighting ceremony. The John Arnold Band performed country versions of "Joy to the World,” "Here Comes Santa Claus,” and "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett arrived in a horse-drawn wagon piloted by Santa Claus to light the 32-foot tree.
At 5:30 p.m., Cornett asked for a show of hands to see how many children had been good in 2008 and then counted down from 10 before throwing the switch, illuminating the tree with hundreds of light-emitting diodes. The LEDs were implemented for the first time this year as an energy-conservation measure.
The action shifted down to the Chesapeake Boat House and Regatta Park at 6 p.m. for the fifth annual Devon Energy River Parade. Thousands of spectators gathered along the Oklahoma River for a massive fireworks display engineered by Western Enterprises of Enid.
Twenty-four brightly decorated boats passed the boat house, including three river cruisers and two Glaston/Carlson Scimitars, which were used in the James Bond film "Moonraker.” Themes included "How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Garfield the cat, a "swimming Rudolph,” a Sooner Schooner and Santa’s sleigh.
Cornett said the turnout for Downtown in December is a show of the growing feeling of community in the city. In addition, the mayor said he was looking for another major event to kick off his own holiday festivities.
"Getting the Thunder a victory tonight would be a good start,” Cornett said.
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