What started as a modest procession of eight floats 34 years ago has grown nearly eightfold into a proper parade of 65 flamboyant floats, said Gerry Parker, one of Cortez’s Parade of Lights founders.

“I never did imagine it going this big,” said Parker. “But I did know it progressed every year.”

The Four Corners Board of Realtors initially put it on to give back to the community, and it remains a time to come together, Parker said.

On Saturday, it brought a community together following the tragic death of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran, who died Wednesday after being shot during a traffic stop.

In his honor, at the end of the parade, the last car out of the procession was Moran’s car, decorated with a black shroud. The police department then fell into line, followed by a Fallen Heroes trailer, said Terry McCabe, who’s retiring after 19 years of overseeing the event.

“That’s really a big deal for us, it’s important, and I’m happy we did it,” said McCabe.

Police and regular cars alike were painted with Sgt. Moran’s name and messages to “Rest in Peace.” The procession spanned nearly six blocks.

Blue Lives Matter flags decorated more floats than usual, showing support and solidarity for Moran and the Cortez Police Department.

Like every year, there was a great sense of community at the parade, said Kayla Lindhorst, who’s lived in Cortez and been attending it for the past 12 years.

“But this year had a different feeling toward the end,” Lindhorst said.

Though the parade ended on a solemn note of remembrance, the rest of it stayed true to its previous traditions, starting with Santa flying in via helicopter.

Eager attendants strained to catch a glimpse of him as he disembarked on Main Street, and afterward, the parade began.

It’s a new tradition and will happen each year, so long as weather permits, said Michelle Morris, a volunteer at the event for over a decade.

“Anyone that wants to come to town, this is the weekend to do it,” said Morris. “Cause it’s so fun!”

The parade is always on the first Saturday of December to kick-start the holiday season, she said.

The viewers agreed it does just that.

“It’s our first thing to start the holidays. It feels like Christmas is coming,” said Crystal Proffitt, a resident of Dove Creek who’s come to the parade the past three years.

Beyond fostering Christmas spirit, the parade has a Grand Marshal and a theme to reflect that person and a greater lesson.

This year, the Grand Marshal was Mitchell Toms, a Cortez community member who’s actively involved in helping the town function – behind the scenes. And so this year’s theme of “the hidden spirit of Christmas” speaks to the way Toms participates in the town: quietly.

“It’s really my privilege just to be here in this community. When I moved here, I didn’t know one person,” he said.

Toms supports and organizes several charities in Montezuma County. He’s found space for emergency shelters and helped establish a Habitat for Humanity. He was also named a Community Champion by El Pomar Foundation and the Denver Broncos, among other things.

“It’s just being a part of it,” Toms said. “(Everyone) making me feel like I’ve been part of this community all my life is a great privilege.”

Morris said that even the judges – six elementary-age kids from Cortez and the surrounding areas – were selected tactically, to align with this year’s theme.

“I asked the schools to help choose a student that does good, that does their schoolwork and everything, but might not be on the front lines of everything and flies under the radar,” she said.

After the parade, they expressed shared, mixed feeling of nervousness and happiness at being selected to judge. But they all agreed they loved to see the creativity and beautiful lights. They also felt proud to be part of the community, especially at the end during the memorial.

Although each year is different, whether it be weather-wise or float-wise, there’s a lot of repeat participants that build the floats and come to the parade. And everyone’s always there for the same reason: to enjoy, said Morris.

“You meet someone on the street corner that don’t even know, and you end up chatting all evening with them,” she said.

Parker said that picking a favorite float is hard, since all the participants put a lot of imagination and effort into it.

“It really is a beautiful thing,” said Parker. “That’s probably why you can’t buy any lights at Walmart, cause they’re all going out to the parade.”

The parade isn’t a moneymaker or anything like that; it’s strictly for the community’s enjoyment, and Parker said the best part is seeing how much the community truly enjoys it.

“They park their cars early and get all lined up,” she said. “I think they appreciate it very much.”

Morris said that even though it’s officially wintertime in Cortez, the community’s holiday spirit doesn’t falter, despite the cold.

“Everyone’s like ‘oh it’s cold’ or ‘oh it’s this’ but when you’re out there and enjoying it, most people don’t realize the cold. It’s just an enjoyable time,” she said.

“We see people from all over and come in and be intrigued by the parade and enjoy it.”

The Four Corners Board of Realtors gives out small cash prizes to each of the winners.