By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

The highlight for Lydia Osborne at this year’s Joplin Christmas parade was getting a jolly wave from Santa Claus.

“When Santa Claus waved at me” said Osborne, 9, of Joplin. “That was my favorite part.”

The sack full of Christmas candy also made quite an impression on the girl.

“Everything in there is good,” she said.

Thousands lined Joplin’s Main Street Saturday night, sporting knit caps, mittens and scarves to fight off chilly temperatures in the low 40s at the parade’s 5:30 p.m. start. Saturday’s parade marked the 38th time the Joplin Jaycees have hosted the event, according to John Thurman, vice president of the group.

Sitting in chairs on the bed of her pickup parked near the old Bagcraft building at 10th and Main streets, Julie Hanford-Rogers had prime seats to watch the floats and bands go marching by. Bundled up with a blanket, Hanford-Rogers said about 30 members of her extended family were scattered up and down Main Street, filling up on candy and cheer.

“It’s a family tradition,” she said. “We’ve been coming to watch the parade from this same spot for years.”

Other spectators stayed in their cars or watched the parades from shops and restaurants lining Main Street.

Tammy Farmer, whose family owns Joplin Pawn and Purchase at 1204 S. Main, made use of two generators to heat the sidewalk in front of her store for the benefit of about 25 family members and friends from church.

“We’ve done it for the last couple of years actually,” she said. “We just order pizza and have people come over to watch the parade.”

Thurman said this year’s parade featured about 100 entries. He said the number of participants had been hampered by a struggling U.S. economy.

“We did have some challenges with the economy,” he said. “Costs are up, including parade insurance and materials. It’s the same with people. Most of the individuals are dropping out (of making floats) and now it’s pretty much corporations.”

Two years ago, the parade date was moved from a Tuesday night to the first Saturday of December, but Thurman said the Jaycees may consider moving the date again to accommodate more participants and spectators.