Let the festivities begin: West Valley parade welcomes the holidays

WEST VALLEY CITY — Hundreds of families kicked off the holiday season Friday morning with a traditional Santa Claus parade through the heart of this growing city.

A paramedic in stilts helped lead the parade of dancers, representatives of local businesses and even four-wheelers made to look like train cars. Parade participants waved politely, smiled and handed out coupons and candy, putting joy in the hearts of children and their parents and grandparents alike.

"It's just fun to go to a parade," said West Valley resident Debra Morrill, whose daughter was in the parade representing a high school drill team. "I don't care how old you are; it makes you feel like a little kid again."

The only problem? Santa himself wasn't visible for most of the route. For the first time this year, he traveled in the cab of a big rig donated by Kenworth Sales Co. For most people standing or sitting along 2700 West, the jolly elf was up too high.

In past years, the red-suited elf rode in a horse-drawn carriage in the parade, said Chamber West president and chief executive Alan Anderson.

When the procession reached Lancer Way this year, Santa left the truck and walked through the cold and smog into Valley Fair Mall. The Christmas march was serenaded by brass and woodwind instruments playing holiday tunes that echoed inside the hard walls and high ceiling of the west-side shopping center.

The parade was produced by Chamber West, which serves as the local chamber of commerce for Kearns, West Valley City and Taylorsville. Like last year, the traditional parade route was altered to accommodate construction of a light-rail line near the mall. The shopping center itself is also undergoing renovation, but it was buzzing with shoppers looking for Black Friday deals when the parade arrived.

New to the parade this year was a Wasatch Roller Derby team and its sponsor, Hollywood Connection. Donning roller skates, kneepads and black tights, the women stood out against children in traditional Christmas colors and mascots from businesses and sports teams.

"It works off all that turkey and fat we ate yesterday," said Joilyn Luke, whose competition name is Sugar Pain. "We can sweat in the cold."

Once inside the mall, Santa patiently listened to holiday wishes, seated on a wooden park bench surrounded by glittering pine trees and poinsettias. Photos with St. Nick were framed by a hockey goal post and a replica of Utah Grizzlies mascot Grizzbee.

"What's with the hockey crap?" asked Victoria Foster, whose children helped pass out snacks during the parade. "He came out of a truck. Where's the sleigh? To me, hockey is not Christmas."

In past years, the Santa has waited for good boys and girls in a North Pole-style village. This year, the Santa Lodge is undergoing repairs, said mall spokeswoman JP Swain. The shopping center has a cross-promotion deal with the hockey team, she said.

When children visit Santa, they each get a free hockey ticket to any game in January plus a meal gift certificate to SmashBurger.

"This is very unique to partner with a business," Swain said.

West Valley City, though part owner of the hockey team, was not involved in the promotion, she said.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com