Over 200 children receive toys from San Miguel Firefighters Association 

NORTH COUNTY — It was a Country Christmas in San Miguel and Creston on Saturday, Dec. 17. Lighted floats of all kinds strolled down the main streets of the rural towns.

The Creston Lighted and Local Christmas Parade returned to Webster Road with families lined along the streets for their annual pop-up Christmas parties on the street from Allgood Custom Leather to the Longbranch Saloon. Some comments were made that this year saw some of the best floats yet.

Lighted side-by-sides, RVs, semi-trucks, vintage trucks, trailers, and horses — big and small — made their way through town. Residents of the Creston area got together, as they do every year for the impromptu parade. The Creston 4-H lighted trailer was hard to miss being pulled by a beautifully lighted Peterbilt. Overall there was an impressive collection of lighted vehicles to be seen and many good times to be had following the parade.

San Miguel hosted their 32nd Annual Christmas Parade. Each year, the San Miguel Firefighters Association (SMFA) hosts a Christmas parade and toy drive for the residents of San Miguel. There was a great turnout this year of floats and cars decked out in lights stroll down the heart of San Miguel on Mission Street.

This year the Grinch drove a vintage Ford pickup and took some time to stop the parade and terrorize the crowd. He was followed by more vintage cars, the Lilian Larson Parent Teach Organization, a lighted RV, a cabin on wheels, and more that made their way down the street.

Riding on the SMFA’s 1937 International Van Pelt Fire Engine was Santa, Mrs. Claus, and his elves. Mercy Air, an air medical transportation company, made an appearance prior to the parade in its helicopter.

Following the parade, all the children of San Miguel were welcome to come to the firehouse for a visit with Santa, and the firefighters distribute toys out to the children. For the past 18 years, SMFA has collected toy donations to be distributed by Santa Claus after the parade. There were over 200 children who visited the SMFA firehouse after the parade and all were able to take home a toy, thanks to the SMFA’s sponsors and donors.