Zombies In The Streets!

By AMY DAVIS

The Progress

There was a slight chill in the air on the night the zombies took over Old Mill Road in Mesquite. It wasn’t long before skeletons, witches and other spooky things that belong only to the night, joined the zombies in the third official R.A.I.S.E. Mesquite Halloween parade. Community members and children dressed in costumes began to line the streets of the new parade route in great anticipation for the 6 pm event.

This Halloween parade is something that Mesquite residents have come to look forward to. This year was no exception. The parade was quite well attended.
The new parade route this year took the grisly procession north on Arrowhead and then right on Old Mill.

The route was adjusted for safety concerns. During last year’s parade a small child dived under one of the moving floats to grab a piece of candy. The float was stopped in time before anyone was injured but it made R.A.I.S.E. rethink parade safety. With spectators only able to line one side of the street on Old Mill, it was much easier for float drivers to keep an eye out for pedestrians and candy seekers.

Another rule observed by R.A.I.S.E. this year was that candy was only to be handed out by “walkers” who handed candy to parade spectators. It was not to be thrown from floats. R.A.I.S.E. had hoped this would add an extra layer of safety for the children this event was created for.

“We have always been involved in the communities where we live, and we just wanted to provide another fun event for the kids,” said R.A.I.S.E. President Carly Toutant. “We love what the Shreek-eeka does and the police put on a great event as well. We just wanted to be a part of the season.”
Toutant’s R.A.I.S.E. float lead the parade while blasting the song, “Bam!” from the Disney movie, “Zombies.”

It were followed by members of Be Brave gymnastics who choreographed a routine that went along with the song.
Toutant’s favorite part about the parade? “The kids.”
“I used to do this for my grandkids, but now they are older and live far away,” she said. “I miss them very much, so this is my proxy. We do this because we love it, and we will do this as long as we can.”
“I love a parade!” said R.A.I.S.E. Vice President Beth Caplinger.

No stranger to parade planning, Caplinger planned the largest 4th of July parade in two counties for 9 years that involved 104 units while living in Ohio. Eventually she was named chairperson of parade planning for Mesquite days.
“I love the craziness of it all, we really have fun.” Beth said.

The parade ended at Willow Street where floats were judged, and a costume contest was held for the children.

In the best float category, the first place Trophy was awarded to Pampered Pooches. The 2nd place trophy went to Ace Hardware and third place went to MPOA.

For the best decorated vehicle category, first place went to Bliss Salon, 2nd place went to Scenic Car Club and 3rd place went to Battle Born Graphics.

The awards for Dancing and tumbling went to Be Brave for first place and the Virgin Valley VVETTES for 2nd place.

A special chairwoman’s award was given to Kokopelli ATV Club.