Ecuadorian Entry in Santa Parade sets off a Reaction

A float and dancers in native dress meant to represent the Ecuadorian community in Milford entered the Welcome Santa Parade for the first time this year. Some parade watchers said it was inappropriate.

A float and native dancers representing the Ecuadorian community in the Welcome Santa Parade upset some people watching the event, who questioned why they were allowed to participate. The float was one of about 130 in the parade, but the one many were talking about immediately following the event. People who were not happy with the inclusion of the Ecuadorians posted online comments on the Milford Patch Facebook page, and others called the parade organizer to question the decision.  On the Patch Facebook page, a woman asked why illegal immigrants were allowed to march in the town parade. She said she felt like she was "slapped across the face" and so did others, and made a reference to the death of Matthew Denice. Denice, a 23-year-old …

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Danielle Lizotte

8:24 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012

I agree with you. I thought their contribution was delightful and showed lots of Christmas and community spirit. Maybe we have problems in our country right now with illegal immigration and I'm not denying that we have to figure this out. But the Ecuadorians were joining the community to celebrate the birth of a person who said to welcome the stranger, treat others as you would be treated, love …   more ›

Welcome Santa Parade 2012

The 25th annual Welcome Santa Parade will be Dec. 2.

Ready for some red fleece and bells? And a lot of fire truck sirens? The annual Welcome Santa Parade this year will be Dec. 2, stepping off from its traditional starting point on East Main Street at 4 p.m. Last year, an estimated 25,000 people watched the parade move down Main Street in Milford. The parade annually draws 30 to 50 fire trucks and last year had 131 floats. The plans for this year – the 25 anniversary of the parade – promise more of the same, said Ted DePaolo, a firefighter and chief organizer of the event for the Milford Permanent Firefighters Association. The fire trucks will stage for the parade this year on Birch Street; parade floats and participants will line up on Veterans Memorial Drive. If anyone has a question about…

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 7

Five things you may not have known about the Welcome Santa Parade.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. Milford Patch interviewed Ted DePaolo, a Milford firefighter and a coordinator of the Welcome Santa Parade, held Sunday, who had the following bits to share. 1. It seemed like a big crowd, and DePaolo, who follows Santa in the parade, said the organizers estimated at least 25,000 people attended. In popular places, including most of downtown, people were standing several deep. Even in normally sparse places, people lined Main Street. The weather may have contributed to the crowd. Unlike previous years, parade goers on Sunday had temperatures in the 50s to high 40s, …

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Viewfinder

IMAGE GALLERY: Santa Draws Several Thousand to Milford

Santa Claus knows how to draw a crowd. A warm night for December helped, too, as several thousand people turned out Sunday to watch the Welcome Santa Parade.

Milford residents and their children and grandchildren turned out in large numbers Sunday to welcome Santa Claus, in the annual Welcome Santa Parade. Organized by the Milford firefighters' union, the parade drew fire trucks from surrounding towns, two marching bands, several dancing troupes and dozens of floats. A World War II era cannon kept everyone jumping. And, at the end, of course, Santa Claus rode through town on his own float.

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