For as long as anyone in the Crystal Canal neighborhood can remember, one tradition has anchored the start of the holiday season: gathering on the beach to watch the annual Crystaland Christmas Parade roll by. Year after year, neighbors bring folding chairs, firewood, and favorite dishes to share, turning a simple stretch of sand into a welcoming parade watch party. This past Saturday was no different.
The weather cooperated, offering a pleasantly cool evening that felt tailor-made for sitting around a fire. Everyone arrived early to enjoy this shared tradition as longtime Crystal Canal residents mingled easily with newcomers to the neighborhood.
While the Crystal Canal community finds reasons to gather throughout the year, this night stands apart. There is something about combining the glow of a beachside campfire, the anticipation of the parade, and the spirit of the season that makes it especially meaningful.
When the parade finally arrived, conversation gave way to cheers and applause, calling out to the floats as they passed.
This year offered an unexpected bonus as eyes occasionally drifted upward, scanning the night sky in search of meteors.
Moments like these are often described as small, but to those who experience them, they feel anything but. This is more than a gathering. It is a living tradition, cherished by a special group of people, and one that seems destined to be carried on for many years to come.
