Our first Christmas Parade highlighted the creativity and dedication of city employees

3 min read

KAMU-TV will broadcast the parade at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

By Bobbie Lehrmann, Assistant Director Public Communications

In a stunning demonstration of unity and creativity, College Station’s inaugural Christmas parade shone bright last weekend, thanks partly to the delightful participation of several City of College Station departments – Community Services, Visit College Station, Fiscal Services, Fire, and College Station Utilities.

Employees from those departments enhanced the parade’s electrifying vibe by pouring their passion into captivating floats that showcased their unique community roles.

In addition to the participants, many other city employees worked behind the scenes to ensure the first-time event was a stunning and almost flawless success. The accomplishment took a colossal team effort from Public Works, Parks and Recreation, the City Manager’s Office, Public Communications, and the Police and Fire Departments.

Incredibly, the 60-float parade didn’t even exist until the BCS Christmas Parade was canceled in mid-September, and city leaders promptly stepped in to fill the gap. That’s when University and Community Relations Manager Barbara Moore began brilliantly organizing the entire operation.

We were also honored to have Penny Zent serve as grand marshal and the incomparable Ben Downs as Santa. The duo faithfully served the old BCS Christmas Parade for decades.

Parade Photos

City of CS Participants

FIRE DEPARTMENT

COMMUNITY SERVICES

VISIT COLLEGE STATION

FISCAL SERVICES

COLLEGE STATION UTILITIES

CSU’s entry was a sample of the extraordinary vehicles they use to keep the power on for our entire community, including this one with another Whoville theme.

One City, One Team

College Station’s overarching organizational value of “One City, One Team” resounded through each department’s float and the phenomenal work of scores of unseen city employees who made our inaugural Christmas Parade one to remember.

Ultimately, the College Station Christmas Parade was an unforgettable testament to the power of unity, reminding us that when we stand as one, we can achieve beautiful and worthwhile things for our community.

About the Blogger

Bobbie Lehrmann is in her first year as the city’s assistant director of public communications. She comes to College Station from the City of Navasota, where she served as marketing and communications director. Lehrmann lived most of her life in Australia and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media communications from Queensland University of Technology.

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