There is more to the annual Auburn Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade than throwing candy and smiling at those passing by.
Lolly Steiner, president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, said the parade is a cooperative effort between several groups of people.
Organization is accomplished largely by volunteers.
"There are some members of our chamber who serve the chamber only during the Christmas parade," Steiner said. "They've always been a part of that committee, and they enjoy it very much."
The City of Auburn is another integral part of the process.
"We partner with the City of Auburn, of course," Steiner said. "We could not close the streets and protect the viewers and so forth on the sidewalk without the Public Safety's assistance."
Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Department said the parade does not usually present a problem for the Department of Public Safety.
"Normally, we don't have any problems during the Christmas parade," Stofer said. "Everybody's in the Christmas spirit and just come out to have a good time."
However, according to Stofer, the DPS does take certain precautions just in case.
Officers lead the parade on motorcycles while others are stationed at intersections to direct traffic.
According to Steiner, the organization process begins once a date is set for the parade.
In the past, the parade has been held on a weeknight.
This year, the date was moved to Saturday, Dec. 11, at the request of some merchants in downtown Auburn.
"The downtown merchants came to us and said, 'We'd like to move it to a Saturday. We feel that it would be more beneficial to us as merchants. Since the parade takes place right here in our front door, we'd like to try it on a Saturday.' So we met and agreed that we would try," Steiner said.
Once the date is set, any organization or individual wishing to participate in the parade can fill out an application.
The Chamber has a list of past participants to which it sends applications, although anyone else is welcome to apply.
There is no charge to participate.
Steiner said regular participants include local churches, dance studios, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, cheerleaders and often Aubie.
The parade is limited to 100 participants; however, Steiner said the limit does not usually present a problem.
"Really, there's been very few years in my 15 or so years with the Chamber that we have had to turn anybody away," Steiner said. "So we've been very fortunate."
Steiner said there are two main rules for participants in the parade.
"The only float or person that can throw candy is Santa Claus," she said. "That's to keep the children safe and so forth.
"And then the second rule is that we don't allow horses. We have some wagons being pulled by horses, and we will allow those occasionally, but just horses and riders is a little too dangerous."
Steiner said the parade lasts about an hour, and the route generally stays the same from year to year.
Steiner said her advice to anyone wishing to organize a parade would be to start by organizing a group of volunteers to help with the event.
Next, she advised checking the city ordinances to determine if a permit is necessary and how one can be obtained.
"The City of Auburn has an ordinance," Steiner said, "that when you want to have a parade, you have to have a permit.
"So that's another part of the behind the scenes that people don't think about--you know, that we have to do all the legalities that are involved with that."
Finally, Steiner suggested taking as many safety precautions as necessary for the area.
"It's paramount of any parade like that, with that many people gathered in one place," she said.
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