Every year, our hometown of Bridgton, Maine, has a parade in early December to kick off the holiday season.  Last year I chose not to perform in it as it was raining very hard, and juggling wet props is pretty close to impossible.  This year conditions were perfect.  It was 40 degrees with no significant wind.

In addition to the spot on weather, for the first time I had three students join me for this event.  Caleb joined in by juggling large jingle bells, Elijah brought his diabolo, and Brianna, a fine magician and step dancer, but not yet able to juggle, carried a my lighter fluid and lighter so that I could continue to refuel my fire devil sticks throughout the mile or so walk through downtown.  The kids added a nice variety to what I normally do in the parade, and Elijah never dropped his diabolo once, including many high throws.  One throw actually hit the powerline over Main Street!  I told him the electricity that flowed onto his diabolo when it made contact had the potential to give him super powers.  

The nice thing about this event is how many people I know are among the crowd on the sidewalks through town.  There were people from church, school, neighbors, and others we know from here or there.  There are just as many friends and acquaintances in the parade, too.  For example, Rose's dance studio had a float again this year,, and many of her friends and teachers were part of it.  Area churches and businesses had floats as well.

When we reached the finishing point of the parade - the monument in town, we had a way to go to get back to where I parked and where the kids' parents were to meet us.  The float in front of us - representing a local salon - invited us to hop on for the ride back.  Ironically, it was the Grinch (or a reasonable costumed version thereof) who invited us to hop on.  

The Bridgton Festival of Lights parade even wins over the mean one, Mr. Grinch.