Published Monday, December 08, 2008 6:05 AM
Eight-year-old Taylor Rose Williams jumped up and down with excitement Sunday as she waited for the main event to roll her way: Santa Claus.
Everything was in place for her family's annual tradition of watching the Bryan-College Station Christmas parade.
"We always come out as a family. This is a family get-together," explained her mom, Wendy Babineaux, adding that she performed in the parade as a little girl.
On Sunday, Wenday Babineaux and her 63-year-old mother waited anxiously with Taylor, along with thousands of spectators lining Texas Avenue as the parade wound slowly along the two-mile route from College Station.
But this year, the family was missing one person: Wendy Babineaux's husband is serving with in Iraq, she said, pointing out that they already mailed his Christmas presents.
"It's hard because you don't get to spend time or be together as a family," she said. "But we're very proud of him. We wish he was here."
Attending the parade on Sunday was a way to bring the three generations of Babineaux's together, they said.
They were a part of the one of the largest crowds in recent years, said Ben Downs, one of the organizers of the parade.
"It was just a beautiful day, and there was no way we could have asked for any better weather," said Downs, who has been involved with the 82-year-old event for nearly 30 years. "As I was talking to Santa as he was heading to Easterwood [Airport] to pick up the reindeer and head back to the North Pole, he said it was just about the biggest Christmas parade Bryan-College Station has had. And I think he was actually right."
The 119 groups that participated Sunday afternoon traveled briefly along University Drive from the Texas A&M campus to Texas Avenue, stopping at the Tejas Center under clear blue skies and 65-degree weather.
Hundreds of children stood in awe watching the fancy floats, horses, bands, dancers and cars pass by. In addition to community groups and businesses, this year's parade included A&M President Dr. Elsa Murano, Bryan Mayor Mark Conlee and College Station Mayor Ben White.
Downs said Santa's helpers collected around 175 letters, all of which will be answered if they have a return address.
This year's grand prize winner was Grand Station Entertainment. The judge's award went to the City of Bryan Parks and Recreation Department, and the award of excellence was presented to Cub Scout Pack No. 62. James Earl Rudder High School freshmen and sophomores also brought home two awards in their inaugural year to participate in the parade.
Meanwhile, Bryan High School Shy-Annes Asia Benford, 18, Brittany Burns, 16, Tiana Owens, 15, and Courtney Lister, 17, said they've each participated in the parade every year since they started high school. And, they said, this year was one of the best.
Dancing in the parade is optional for Shy-Annes, the teens said, but they all enjoy doing it.
"It's a tradition," Benford said.
The best part, Owens said, is "seeing all of the kids' faces" as the parade passed by.
And, she added, the event really makes it feel like Christmas.
"This marks my calendar: Christmas starts now," she said.
Tina Thompson, a house manager for a mental health assistance group home in Bryan, said she brought her friends and family members, along with residents of the home with her to the parade this year.
"This is really a pretty neat thing," she said, adding that she's come to the parade consistently for the past 10 years. "It's just wonderful to see the expressions on their faces."
Maurice and Melissa Maness have watched the parade for the past 10 years. The couple said they like to participate in the Jingle Bell Fun Run fundraiser before the parade.
This year the two brought their four dogs, who, like their owners, were decked out in holiday attire.
"I think this definitely gets you into the spirit of the season," Maurice Maness said.
The excitement was almost too much for Wendy Babineaux's daughter to bear.
"I like to see the cheerleaders," Taylor said, kicking her leg above her head to demonstrate her cheering abilities. Taylor said she wants to be a cheerleader in the parade someday.
Wendy Babineaux's mother, Ruby Babineaux, said she remembers watching her daughter perform in the parade when she was a child.
She took a ton of pictures, Wendy Babineaux recalled. "A whole roll on the camera," Ruby Babineaux added.
When Taylor turns 11 years old, her mother said, she can try to join a group to be in the parade, too. But until then, Wendy Babineaux said, she'll have to be content on the sidelines.
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Posted by: On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title: Learn to spell
You can't spell my name. It's Harris, not Harria. Learn to proof your typing before you send it.
Posted by: X-Bryan resident On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title:
Next year we should have a primarily College Station route due to safety concerns. Since this will alleviate the safety concerns that some have due to Bryan's severe criminal activity and the children of the county could enjoy the atmosphere around honest god fearing Christians.
Posted by: Melrose On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title:
It was a Christmas parade that children obviously enjoyed, that's all that matters. Let's not take something positive and turn it into a negative bashing debate. This is not a time to nitpick each other to death. Let's keep spreading the holiday cheer, not diminish it.
Posted by: On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title: To Kevin Harria
You probably can't go no where cause you can't even spell family, not familey
Posted by: Bryan Resident On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title: Speaking of thugs and theives
Doesn't College Station have theives: David P. Romei,Paul Urso. Murderers: Ronald Johnson, Jr., Jeremiah Rosser. Thugs: CSPD's very own Gary Vick. Do I need to list a few more names? College Station residents are no better than anybody else in this world.
Posted by: Jill-CSTX On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title:
CSPD did a excellent job on keeping Bryan Thugs under control I agree. I hope CSPD does not have to take over The police Dept. in Bryan. Do to their Cover-ups and city corruption.
Posted by: On: 12/10/2008
Comment Title:
Cannot wait until next years parade. Gig'em and Merry Christmas
Posted by: Susan, you misunderstood On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title:
The side roads were blocked to "fence in" College Station trash.
Posted by: Susan College Station On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title:
CSPD had the side roads blocked so Bryan residents and gang members could not attack us in CS. Thank you CSPD
Posted by: Kevin Harris Bryan On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title:
Jamie I agree. I live in the E.side of Bryan. My familey can not go west of HWY 6 in Bryan.
Posted by: Bryan High Faculty member On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title: To Proud Rudder Parent:
You should be Proud. That's a very good sounding band!
Posted by: Domaco34 On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title: The parade
To start I would like to know where the parade started. From what I heard it started at the Polo Fields on campus. Is this correct? I was sitting across from Applebees in front of the Sonic. Has something changed or is this still college station?? Why was the parade in Bryan? I guess the same reason it was in college station!! Huh, weird!!! To jaimecs, I took my seven year old and he had a blast. The little plastic football that the Bryan High cheerleader gave him, made him the happiest little kid there. If you didn't take your daughter because of your unwarranted fears, then you just took that away from her. Good job. You ARE a bad parent. Now, to get to the reason we SHOULD be on here, I liked the parade. People who want to advertise, well, they spent their money, why not? I feel the parade was to long. My son and I got there early to get some place to sit, about one thirty. at four, it was starting to get a little cool and we were on like #85. It went through like 135 or so and after two and a half hours, my seven year old was ready. It is too bad that Santa was in the very back. He didn't get to see him and that was to bad. It was just to long. I thought it was a good parade though. If anyone cares, my advise is to make it shorter, or...... kill the huge gaps in between every third or fourth float. Other than that, good job BCS.
Posted by: worker_bee On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title: It seems odd
Some of these postings are word for word copies of the postings on the KBTX parade story (see for example JHCM). Conspiracy? Black Helicopters? Parade fetish? This parade must have really made you ticked off.
Posted by: On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title: WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SCREAMING????????
There's a little button on the left side of the keyboard. It says "Caps Lock". I suggest you not only learn some spelling and grammar, but how to use it. I am willing to listen/read to most any posting. I just CAN"T DEAL WITH STUPID!
Posted by: On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title: SNOB STATION
I THINK SNOB STATION IS JUST JEALOUS BECAUSE BRYAN IS MORE BETTER LOL LOL LOL LOL THE PARADE IS IN BRYAN BECAUSE WE NO HOW TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND WE ARENT LIKE SNOB STATION WITH OUR NOSES IN THE AIR LOL LOL LOL I AM GLAD I DONT LIVE IN COLLEGE STATION THE PRICES ARE TO HIGH AND IT HAS NO GOOD CLUBS LOL LOL LOL LOL
Posted by: On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title: Wow!
Jamie, College Station has their share of criminals too. Who's to point fingers? You don't know who you are sitting next to in church. Judge not lest you be judged.
Posted by: On: 12/9/2008
Comment Title:
I know the story is not about Jamie, never in my blogs did I say this is her story. I'm just making fun at her, the way she picks on Bryan, giving her, a sip and annoyance of her own medicine..ooh did you notice also it's not about advertising. It's about the parade. I see nothing wrong with advertising. When I worked for Titian Auto Insurance, we rented our float from Brenham and decorated really nice, this was in 1997 and 1998, and we won 2nd place, both years. There is nothing wrong with advertizing, stop hating and of course this is not the Macy's parade, are people that stupid to compare parades. Of coarse Macy's parade is going to better than our parade (they spend millions of dollars) Bryan/ College Station do not have that kind of money. And the Macy's parade does advertise as well. Stop complaining, you want a better parade, join the organization and help out next year, it's better than whinning about it, do something about it or next year don't go. Or better yet close your eyes so that you don't see the advertisting. People are just plain dumb. AND WHINE ABOUT EVERYTHING LOSERS
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title:
Look people if you think the parade was great, then good for you. I have no problem with advertising your name, but put forth some effort on the product you are advertising. The way you promote yourself shows through your work. I am not expecting our parade to equal Macy's ( that would be stupid on my part) but have some class if you are going to enter the parade. I guess you applaud the cars in the parade that were smoking oil out the tailpipes. Somethings were just not meant to be, so think it out. I have been to many of our parades, and if you read the posts on KBTX, the majority agrees with the advertising. Move on. Everything doesn't have your name on it to be seen. Do you have on your name on your work so that your boss knows that you did it.
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: No, it's not like Macy's
Evidently, the person who thinks our parade should be more like Macy's would be perfectly willing to pay $250,000 or more for a 800 square foot apartment in New York so they could enjoy the Macy's parade every year.
Posted by: Sam On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Angry posters
Some of the posters here seem so angry and why because jamie@cs has a different opinion than you about bryan? The anger is gonna get you folks nowhere and this is a story about a parade in bryan by the way not jamie.
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Thank our local Businesses
my question is from a marketing standpoint here- why in the world would a business spend in many cases thousands of dollars on a float and NOT put their business name on it? Come on people- some of y'all obviously don't know much about marketing. Also, you should thank all of these businesses, because without them the parade would hardly exist...
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Proud Rudder Parent #2
I was very proud to see our band perform. These kids work very hard and deserved the placing they got. WTG RUDDER RANGERS
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: To Betty and Jamie (same person)
hummmm when does a mother with children refer to people young thugs... I doubt that. You are lieing that posting was just Jamie @C.S. trashing Bryan. So Jamie now you are making up stories to bash Bryan you are such a loser. Betty or Jamie @C.S, whatever you post your fake name under.
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title:
Hey I see that my posting regarding Jamie @ C.S was taken down. Oh did I offend you. The Eagle has let Jamie @ CS post idiot and racial comments and never are her comments remove. See first posting for example. I said in my prior statement Jamie @ C.S probably hates Bryan because she was pick on or beat up from someone from Bryan or her daughter is a product of a hit it and forget it, and didn't stayed with it cause the brain was witted. And now the only way to talk trash is to sit behind a computer and blog. You lash out all at Bryan news. Are you recentful that your college station boyfriend left your child and you for a bryan real WOMAN.Erase this again and I will post it again
Posted by: First Timer On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: So Predictable
I am a life long resident of this area and every article I look at has some inbreed, implant from Arkansas that comments about Bryan to get others started on responses. Please don't give those individuals what they want by responding to them.
Posted by: Proud RUDDER Parent On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: B/CS parade
My daughter plays in the James Earl Rudder High band. I thought they played beautifully!!! I am so proud of the whole band!!! They did a wonderful job! The rest of the parade was very good.
Posted by: molloaggie On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Texas A&M Missing
The reason there weren't any student floats and even the Aggie Band wasn't there is because the parade was in the middle of finals. The Blinn Dental Hygiene group asked if their float could be moved up in the line-up but the officials said no. They were third from last.
Posted by: JHCM On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: parade needs lots of changes
It's time for some things to change in the annual holiday parade--it needs to be completely overhauled. Never have we seen such disorganization, lack of pride, tacky commercial advertising, excessive (and loud) vehicles, and way too many live participants on "floats." The only bright spot was the selection of David and Julia Gardner as parade marshals. For all they have done in this community, we applaud them.
Posted by: Brandi On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Merry Christmas
To no where close to Macy's parade.... it is terribly sad that you have nothing better to do than to down grade other people or business. Obviously you have not grown up in Bryan/College Station or you would know that nothing has changed business enter the parade every year and it is very sad that you do not have facts before you write comments! Cherry does not enter to advertise her business she is doing just fine as a Realtor as you can see!!! She does contribute in many ways to the community and it is something that she enjoys doing every year and many people enjoy seeing her in the community!! Thank you for voicing your concern about the cherry ruffino team and other business but we take it with a grain of salt and wish you and your family a very Blessed and Merry Christmas!! If there is any thing we can do to assist you in the purchasing or selling of a home please feel free to call!!! Merry Christmas and Thank you for allowing me to post a comment to your comment it allowed me once again to promote our TEAM!!!!
Posted by: Marilyn - Coldwell Banker United, Realtors On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Christmas Parade
I see nothing wrong with a business being in the Christmas parade. Who do you think supports and gives back to our community throughout the year. Remember the parade is for the kids. They are excited to see the different floats, vehicles, etc... So what if the business name happens to be on the float.
Posted by: Katie On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Re: No Where close to Macy's
We have done the Parade the last two years and love to see all of the excited little kids.Our float obviously worked because you remembered us. Merry Christmas! Love The Cherry Ruffino Team
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Macy's Parade?
The Eagle said the Aggie Band was missing because the parade was during finals. I always wonder when people say that after a bad experience they'll "never do that again". I guess after sitting through a bad movie, they'll never go to a theater again. I'm sure those little Hoodies are still sitting in that same spot smoking that same dope. My suggestion is to watch it at the very safe, almost College Station, Luby's parking lot. The parade is long, with some long gaps becase of bad driving, but as long as it is run with volunteers, it's the best we're going to get. I liked it. It was fun, free, and nobody asked for a donation.
Posted by: Kevin On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Band
Where was the Aggie Band? That is usually one of the highlights of the parade. I understand advertisers in the parade, but they could have made some better floats....
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: Wait.......
Who's Bryan?
Posted by: Betty On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: My family had a bad experience
We went to the parade in 2005 and some young thugs were smoking marijuana and drinking right in front of parents and kids my family left and will never return.
Posted by: On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: No where close to Macy's parade
The parade is a joke. Too much advertising in the parade to have a Christmas theme. Ruffino advertising herself as a realtor, some company advertising car wraps, a security company, rusty farm tractors, sheriff's dept. & some yellow car that starts smoking and has to be pulled off the parade route. Anybody who has a company can enter the parade as long as you pay the fee. I think next year I'll enter my riding mower, dress it up, better yet I'll just leave the grass on it as decoration. Where are the marching bands like years past-- what few there were didn't play much music down the stretch. The organizers need to consider who is entering the parade and what significant meaning the applicant will provide for the good of the parade. Does the parade committe check on the applicants project after the deadline to enter and see what they plan on doing? My quess would be no. The parade needs to upgrade.
Posted by: sg2k On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title: jamie is a idiot
Posted by: Jamie@CS On: 12/8/2008
Comment Title:
I wanted to take my daughter to the parade but bryan is just too dangerous for my family.
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