Parade lightens mood in Niantic

East Lyme - Bad weather may have delayed the 21st annual East Lyme Light Parade Sunday, but even with last-minute reshuffling and a new Monday-night time slot, the holiday tradition still brought festive crowds to downtown Niantic.

People bundled up, some wearing Santa hats, and lined Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for the show that lasted about an hour and a half. About 60 groups participated, many with gigantic floats that featured glowing or flashing lights and holiday music.

There were bubbles instead of snowflakes, Mrs. Claus wearing a leather jacket on a lit-up Harley-Davidson, kids dressed as presents - even the Grinch. Teddy the Tugboat moved up and down the street and several dance groups from around the area performed. Vendors wheeled around carts filled with inflatable candy canes and glowing toys.

A decorated trio stood among a large crowd of spectators in front of the Black Sheep pub. One woman had a plastic red nose that blinked, antlers on her head and lights around her neck. A man wore an elf hat and had sleigh bells in his hand. And "Mrs. Christmas" had a Santa hat and glowing lights around her neck.

It was Susan Hurley's first time seeing the parade. On Sunday, she moved from Mystic to East Lyme and said she'd always wanted to come to the event. Her friend, Jan Haigh from Waterford, who first identified herself as "Mrs. Christmas," brought her and another friend, Chas Willis of Mystic, to watch the festivities.

Haigh has been a spectator for more than 10 years. She said it's an important part of her Christmas tradition.

"It's everything that's real and beautiful about Christmas," she said. "I love watching the collection of creative stuff that comes down the street."

Jim Pezzello arrived a little more than two hours before the start of the parade to place four folding chairs for his family to sit and watch on the sidewalk facing Main Street. The Waterford resident said his family has gathered to watch the parade for more than 15 years.

"It's probably one of the best parades they have in the area," Pezzello said. "People put a lot of work in their floats."

Pezzello's daughter Nina, 7, performed in the parade with Kiks Dance Studio.

The East Lyme High School marching band led the parade with some of the instruments glowing. The East Lyme Historical Society had two oxen pulling a wagon bearing a Christmas tree, and Niantic Bay Bicycles had Fred Flintstone riding around. The Knights of Columbus featured a live nativity scene and the Niantic Rotary Club had a large spinning globe on its float.

A few float-builders who were disappointed when Groton's light parade was canceled last weekend without a make-up date were able to participate in the event as well.

Cub Scout Pack 24 from Niantic spent about three weeks and about 250 hours to create their Lego Millennium Falcon Star Wars float, which took first place in the nonprofit group category. The 19-feet long Lego float and more than 60 Scouts and their parents in costumes holding light sabers stretched about 90 feet down Main Street.

This is the first time the Cub Scouts have created a float of that size.

Richard Beyer from Pataya Flooring and Stone Supply in Niantic volunteered to organize the creation of the float. His son, Richie, came up with the idea. Richie, 7, is a Cub Scout and a member of Pack 24.

Pati Williams, a parent of Cub Scout, Patrick Dawes, said: "It's like an oversized play toy. It's unbelievable how they put it together."