Parade of Lights brightens Main Street

The Ronan Parade of Lights was a one-horse parade, but that one horse was worth seeing with lights in his tail and a rider in a beautiful Pendleton jacket, accompanying a float raising awareness of No More Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Four wheelers, fire trucks, a semi with a Christmas tree on its grill, a Search and Rescue vehicle, and floats from many businesses and organizations wound through town. A birthday cake for the baby Jesus, Santas and grinches were among the participants.

“We had great support this year with more than 40 floats and an amazing turnout, likely over 400 people in attendance,” said Whitney Leigakos, a board member of the Ronan Chamber, which sponsors the parade.

Marliss, a 3-year-old, was very excited about the candy, while Ivory Cheff, a 5-month-old cutie with baby bear mittens, watched the lights snuggled up in a blanket with her grandmother, Kresta Gochanour.

“It was fun to see our community come out to enjoy the event, with many people making a night of it by then heading to Holiday Treasures and Lights Under the Big Sky,” Leigakos noted.

“It’s one of the biggest nights of the season for Ronan.”

    A giant birthday cake for the baby Jesus was the highlight of one float in Ronan's Parade of Lights. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)