East Lyme - Santa lent his aura to the St. John's Episcopal Church float in the Niantic Light Parade Sunday, and another float tried to recreate Neverland, including pirate ship, Captain Hook and an alligator.

They were among 39 floats entered in the 26th annual parade.

More than 1,000 people lined Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for the colorful event, which grows every year, said Laura Bellefleur, an East Lyme police cadet.

Ernie Covino sold hot chocolate outside his Italian grocery store even though it isn't normally open at that hour. Variety is one reason for the event's popularity, he said.

"The floats have gotten more and more extravagant and more and more creative," Covino said. "People come out just to see what it's going to be like this year. Every year, it changes."

The parade, originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Sunday due to bad weather. Though skies had cleared, temperatures Sunday night dipped into the 30s.

Four cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy judged the floats, some of which had nautical themes, including a lighted boat by the East Lyme Vikings crew team. Another float featured horses with lighted hoofs and plumes.

The overall winner and the commercial division winner was Sign Craft of Niantic.

Other divisonal winners were as follows:

Fire Department: Yantic Fire Department

Dance: All the Right Moves

Family/Neighborhood: Oswegatchie Friends.

Non-profit: Care Co. Shoreline

Along Main Street near the town green, parents bundled toddlers in blankets, children sipped on hot cocoa and a DJ played "Jingle Bell Rock."

"It's just an old time tradition," said Patti Foley, of Niantic, who waited with her daughters and grandchildren for the parade. She's attended every year.

"It's cozy and people are friendly and it's everything you could want. It gets you in the holiday spirit."

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim