Lions and Leos at the 2010 San Jose Christmas Parade

Members of the De Anza Lions and the Monta Vista Leos Club joined forces with Lions and Leos from around the area on Dec. 5 in the always fun annual San Jose Holiday Parade. This year Lions and Leos tethered a large helium balloon of Santa Garfield down the parade route. Dressed in yellow Lions jackets, vests, caps and purple holiday scarves, the entourage of Lions and Leos proudly represented Lionism to the estimated 100,000 people lining Santa Clara and First Streets, and to the television audience of KNTV-NBC that televised the parade.

The San Jose Holiday Parade is considered one of the top 25 parades in the nation and is annually sponsored by Lions clubs in the San Jose and Santa Cruz areas. This year’s Honorary Grand Marshals were World Champion San Francisco Giants center fielder Andres Torres and pitcher Sergio Romo. The Grand Marshal was Minnie Mouse from the Disneyland^® Resort.  

Prior to the parade Lions and Leos from the participating clubs met at the balloon staging area off Santa Clara Street for a fun social hour including hot toddies and donuts. This was a wonderful time to enjoy the great camaraderie of our friends in sister clubs around the area. Approximately 40 Lions and 30 Leos participated. Following the parade Lions across District 4-C6 manned the A.J. Robinson Health Screening unit, providing free diabetes screenings to many who had watched the parade. The “AJ” was strategically parked across from the NBC Broadcast Booth next to Christmas in the Park where the largest parade crowds were gathered. Many thanks to Leos Albert, Alice and Jessica from the Monta Vista Leo Club, who served as Chinese speaking registrars for the free screenings.