By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
The 2014 Orion Lighted Parade was one of the best-attended parades historically in downtown Lake Orion.
And to top it off, an old tradition was revitalized.
Perhaps it was the popularity of the theme, Frozen in Orion, modeled after Disney’s holiday movie Frozen that melted peoples? hearts. Or, perhaps Lake Orion wasn’t as frozen as it was last year.
No matter the cause, community members of all ages lived the theme and packed the streets five and six people deep, cheering on about 75 different floats and organizations lighting the way for Orion’s annual parade.
Leading the way were Frozen’s main characters, Elsa the Snow Queen and her sister Anna who exemplified the parade spirit in beautiful hand-made costumes created by Kathy Coe, owner of Eds Broadway Gift and Costume. Coe sits on the parade committee, and made sure Frozen’s other prominent characters, including the goofy snowman Olaf and charming mountain man Kristoff, were prominent in the parade.
Lake Orion High School student Nicole Ellis Emily Katpor played ‘Elsa? the Snow Queen. ‘Anna,? who also sang a spectacular rendition of Let it Go (famous in the movie) at the Holly Jolly Folly, was played by Utica High School Student Taylor Angela Nicole Murphy.
‘She’s fabulous,? Coe said. ‘People were in awe. People were crying.?
The winners of the 2014 Orion Lighted Parade are as follows: Best Theme Depiction was awarded to Golling GMC-Buick and the Widetrackers; Best Non-Profit was Woodside Bible Church; Best Commercial Business was L.A. Dance; Best Government was Oxford Fire Department; and Most Uniquely Illuminated was Lapeer High School Band.
Bill Kokenos, President of the Orion Area Parade Group, and outgoing President of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, said both the parade and the Holly Jolly Folly the night before set every record imaginable.
‘It was the most successful year we’ve ever had,? he said. ‘Last year the Holly Jolly Folly brought in around $12,000 or $13,000. I know we topped that this year.?
Without the hospitality of Golling Buick GMC on Lapeer, the Holly Jolly Folly would not even be possible, Kokenos said. Golling spends almost six months out of their year preparing for the event in order to transform the car dealership into a Christmas paradise. This year the event was co-sponsored by both Golling and Legacy Lake Orion.
Complete with dinner, dancing, a bar, and a silent auction, the Holly Jolly Folly was sold out four days before the town came together in green and red Friday, Dec. 5, with over 400 people in attendance. The main staples were provided by Lake Orion businesses, such as the food donated by Italian Gardens, and the beer and wine from Oak Barrel Party Store and Powers Distributing.
‘We are already planning for next year’s event,? John Cooper said, General Manager of Golling Buick GMC. ‘We’ve got it down to a science.?
With 50 volunteers, Golling Buick GMC is decorated, partied in, and cleaned up all before the doors open for business Saturday morning.
‘It was a really, really successful weekend. Attendance of the parade was phenomenal. I’ve been doing this eight years and I’ve never seen as many people in the street.?
Apart from dancing, eating and good conversation, the Holly Jolly Folly also unveiled the Orion Lighted Parade’s Citizen of the Year: Sandy Shephard, who sat proudly in the parade’s group corvette throughout the route. Shepherd is well known for her 18 years of dedication to helping direct the Lions Club Christmas Basket Program and raising $23,000 in one day for the Marty Lietke Memorial Fundraiser, among countless other acts of service.
Funds raised from the Holly Jolly Folly go to paying for the entirety of the parade.
Six bands performed along the parade route and in between the dazzling community floats, including the Lake Orion High School Marching Band (obviously), the Lapeer High School band, the St. Joseph Catholic School band, Oakview Middle School’s band, the Detroit All City Marching Band, and one crowd favorite, the Detroit Lions Drumline.
As the night grew colder, and the crowds began to freeze, a unique opportunity was revitalized at the Ehman Center.
This year, Legacy Lake Orion opened the doors to the iconic building for the parade after-glow, located at Elizabeth and Church St. For the first time since the parade began in 1989, children and families could meet Santa and Mrs. Clause after the last float passed for a warm-up and cup of hot cocoa.
‘The parade group does so much for the community, and there’s so much excitement around that building we thought it was a great opportunity for the community to come in and take a look,? Kelly Goddard said, one of the members of Legacy Lake Orion who now owns the Ehman Center. Legacy Lake Orion provided all things warm, cookies, pizza, hot cocoa and Santa’s cheery lap for kids to sit on, a great way to kick off the holiday season.
‘It was a challenge getting an abandoned, vacant building cleaned up, warmed up and in shape for people to come in. We love doing it and hope to do more events there,? she said.
Goddard invites the community to view their facebook page, Legacy LO, to keep tabs on the future development being planned for the building, of which they will be announcing soon.
‘Opening the Ehman Center for the parade has reestablished a tradition that the parade had when we first started,? Kokenos said.
On behalf of the Orion Lighted Parade, Kokenos thanked his committee, the volunteers, the spirit of the community, and the Lake Orion Police Department for keeping this year’s route running smoothly.
‘There were happy children everywhere, and Santa was pleased. All you can ask for,? Police Chief Jerry Narsh said, saying parade goers tripled in attendance from last year. ‘It was truly a magical event in ‘Frozen? Lake Orion. All that glitters was gold.?