Every day feels like Christmas for Jeanne Goodwin. Her home is full of Santa Claus figurines collected by her late husband Everett, and her hall cupboards are covered with photos of him dressed as Santa.

The highlight of the year is donning her Mrs. Claus costume and riding in the Bakersfield Christmas Parade – in honor of Everett, who played the part of Santa in the parade until his unexpected passing in 2000.

So when financial troubles plagued plans for this year’s parade, it broke Jeanne’s heart.

“I cried. I thought, ‘Oh, they can’t do this. This was my husband’s goal in life, to have this parade for the children. I just can’t see my husband’s dream going away,” she said.

But now Jeanne is rejoicing, thanks to a rejuvenated Christmas Parade Committee, and to the many community members and businesses that came forward with donations to carry on the tradition.

“This has been a 100 percent community effort,” said Art Carlock, president of the parade committee.

What’s made the difference is the parade’s new status as a nonprofit

organization, he said. This enables donors to make tax-deductible contributions, a key factor in raising money in these tough economic times.

“It took us a year, but we got the 501(c)(3) status,” Carlock said. “This does a service for the community as well as helps businesses out.”

Since becoming an official nonprofit in mid-June, the committee has raised the necessary funds to put on the parade. The two biggest sponsors are named in the parade’s title: “The Bakersfield Christmas Parade presented by Walmart and ABC23.”

“If Art hadn’t worked all year trying to get this going, the parade wouldn’t be happening,” said Cathy Butler, president of the Downtown Business Association, also a sponsor of the event. (See below for a list of all sponsors.)

Jeanne is just glad the parade will

continue to entertain children and families. She and her husband were very passionate about caring for children, having raised three of their own, four adopted children and about 50 foster children.

Everett was the reason the parade returned to downtown Bakersfield in 1983 after a 12-year hiatus.

“One day, he said to Cathy (Butler), ‘How come we don’t have a Christmas parade anymore?’” Jeanne said. “And she said, ‘I’ve always wanted to start one up again.’ And he said, ‘Then let’s do it.’”

Everett rode in the parade as Santa each year. Jeanne never rode with him, preferring more of a support role handling the candy canes and whatnot.

After Everett’s sudden death from an aneurysm at age 55, Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall – also a big supporter of the parade – asked Jeanne what they were going to do.

“I said, ‘Harvey, if you’ll be Santa, I’ll be Mrs. Claus.’ We had to do this for the children,” Jeanne said.

So that year the mayor played the role Everett had loved so dearly, and Jeanne, now 62, began her tradition of honoring her late husband as Mrs. Claus.

“Once you put the dress on and you get out there, your whole life changes. It’s like being in a fairy tale,” she said. “You see all the children and even the adults, the old people, they just love it.”

Parade information:

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3

Where: The parade starts at 22^nd and L streets and goes west on 21^st Street to G (behind the Fox Theater). It then heads back east on 20^th Street to Q Street, near Mill Creek Park.

Broadcasting: Watch the parade live on KERO Channel 23 and Channel 42 Azteca America.

How to get involved:

• Volunteer. The parade committee is in need volunteers to help with organizing, security and crowds. If your organization would like to volunteer, contact Parade Coordinator Pamela Carlock at 304-2333 or pam@bcparade.com.
• Enter. The parade committee is taking applications from organizations and businesses who want to be in the parade. Entry information and applications are available at www.bcparade.com. The deadline to enter is Nov. 2.
• Donate. To become a parade sponsor, contact Parade Coordinator Pamela Carlock at 304-2333 or pam@bcparade.com.

Grand Title Sponsors:

Wal-Mart
KERO Channel 23

Premier Title Sponsor:

Floyd’s Office Solutions

Premier Sponsors:

3-Way Chevrolet
Highway 99 Cruise ‘n’ Show
Downtown Business Association
R&O Fishing Tool
Carol Burrell, Coldwell Banker
Laurie McCartney, Coldwell Banker
San Joaquin Community Hospital Foundation

Sponsor:

Coldwell Bank Preferred Realtors

Contributors:

All American Glass Company
Annika & John Bowers
Peggy Darling
Raymond’s Trophy & Awards
SC Communications
Hall’s Ambulance
Kern Central Credit Union
Weill Institute
Knights Pumping Portable Services
KUZZ
Flashco
Redwood High School