25th Annual Fallbrook Christmas Parade countdown begins

FALLBROOK — The Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, is just around the corner (Saturday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m.), so be sure to mark the calendar and plan to arrive early! There will be an opportunity for an up-close-and-personal visit with the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, which will be “stabled” near the Maie Ellis Elementary School cafeteria off South Mission Road. Families are invited to bring the kids and watch as the Clydesdales are unloaded, settled into their temporary stables and prepared for the parade. Prior to their arrival, they will be traveling down from the Sierras, fresh from filming a commercial for the Super Bowl in January.

Also a focal point of this year’s parade is the appearance of the Fallbrook Firefighters Association fire engine – the 1918 American La France engine (ALFIE), a very special “collector’s item” vintage vehicle. ALFIE originally belonged to the Glendale Fire Department and served that city until the mid-1940s when she was sold to the town of Arvin, CA, for basic fire protection service. She was later bought by a private collector and was out of service for many years.

ALFIE was then purchased by two Camp Pendleton firefighters, Chief Augustine Fredy and Engineer Ron Woodrey. It was their intent to restore ALFIE, but they were persuaded to sell the fire engine to the Fallbrook Firefighters Association with the stipulation that she remain in Fallbrook to represent Fallbrook’s proud heritage in the fire services. ALFIE was a special feature in Fallbrook’s 2006 Veteran’s Day Parade.

Fallbrook’s current Fire Chief, Bill Metcalf, will ride on ALFIE in next week’s Christmas Parade.

Organizers invite all to bring friends and arrive early to reserve a good spot to watch the parade. A record crowd is anticipated and places along the parade route are expected to fill up fast. Spectators will definitely want a close-up view of all the beautiful entries and the nine marching bands that will proudly parade down Main Avenue.