Winners announced from the 2009 Encinitas Holiday Parade

ENCINITAS — Thousands turned out to watch nearly 90 entries participate in the 2009 Encinitas Holiday Parade Dec. 5. Festivities began with the traditional tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. followed by the parade down Coast Highway 101 at 5:30 p.m. This year’s parade theme was “Season’s GreeNings,” celebrating all things environmental. Many parade entries made a special effort, trying to outdo each other to be the “greenest” entry. Judging categories this year included: Most Environmentally Beautiful, Most Unusual Use of Recycled Material and Best Use of Alternative Energy. The city of Encinitas congratulates its winners in the following judging categories.
In the Best Use of Theme category, first place went to YMCA Wildcat Nation, Second place was a tie between Stage Door Dance and Encinitas Country Day School, and third went to San Dieguito Mustangs Surf Team.
In the Most Environmentally Beautiful category, Paul Ecke Central Elementary School Student Council won first place, with Encinitas Country Day School taking second and YMCA Falcon Nation earning third.
For Best Use of Recycled Material, first place went to the Encinitas Girl Scouts with San Dieguito Mustangs Surf Team taking second and Paul Ecke Central Elementary School Student Council earning third.
In the Best Children’s Group category, first place was won by North County School of the Arts, second by YMCA Falcon Nation and third by Stage Door Dance.
Best Performance of a nonband was awarded to North County School of the Arts
With Southern California Icelandic Riders earning second place and YMCA Falcon Nation taking third.
The Best Marching Band awards gave La Costa Canyon High School Marching Band first place, with San Dieguito Academy Marching Band in second and the Oak Crest and Diegueno Middle School Combined Marching Band in third.
For the Best Use of Alternative Energy category, first place went to the Encinitas Environmental Advisory Committee, second to The Alluvial Fan Club and third to the Southern California Icelandic Riders.
The Best Overall trophy was given to the YMCA Wildcat Nation. A second place was given to Paul Ecke Central Elementary School Student Council and third to Southern California Icelandic Riders.