Two-year-old Caleb Jones went to Saturday night’s parade themed “Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes” and at first saw only tears. Then the action started, and Caleb’s face was as bright as the whole annual Downtown Christmas Parade of Lights.

“See I told there would be dancers,” said Caleb’s grandmother, Sandy Ferguson who, along with her husband, Ray Ferguson, took the 2-year-old to stand among the 3,000 to 4,000 people Sheriff Martin Pace estimated were lining Washington Street.

“I love the lights,” said Dot Bagby of Vicksburg. “It’s wonderful.”

Lights she saw, All vehicles — including 70 floats, motorcycles and cars — were required to be lighted for the parade.

Kim Hopkins, executive director of Vicksburg Main Street Program which organized the parade, was tickled when all was said and done.

 “We had 70 floats, the ROTC, dignitaries and bands … It was wonderful,” she said.

Among the parade-goers were Lionel Cooper, his daughters, Princess and Precious Cooper, and their sons, 9-month-old Braden and 13-month-old Kamron.

“We were a part of the parade while in the band at Vicksburg High School,” Princess Cooper said. “We hope our kids will one day bring their children and grandchildren.”

Temperatures for the evening dropped quickly from the start of the parade — 37 degrees — to 30 an hour later, after the sun set.

Ray Hume, the first-year principal of Sherman Avenue Elementary, was kept at home Saturday night by illness, but it didn’t keep him from seeing his school’s float — deemed by judges as Best in Show.

The driver and its riders headed straight from the parade route to Hume’s home off Drummond Street.

The themes for the floats ranged from “Christmas in the ’80s,” to pirates on an adventure for “Christmas in Neverland” and participants dancing with “Christmas in Soul-town.”

Hours earlier another crowd — counted by organizers at 460 — strolled through the former St. Francis Xavier Academy auditorium at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center’s second annual Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show.

“We have 30 vendors this year, the same number as last, but much more activity,” said executive director Annette Kirlin. “It has been excellent, we are absolutely having it again next year.”

Kirklin was not the only one excited by the day — 7-year-old Abigail Smith, whose parents are Polly and Jack Smith, had a great time.

“Look, look!” Abigail said to her mother as she pointed to a pair of homemade earrings she wanted to buy as a teacher’s gift.

The earrings were being sold by The Three Gems — they being Julie Flowers, Victoria Ray and Genie Nussbaum, all of Vicksburg. The three women said they have been creating homemade jewelry for years.

Selections during the six-hour run included just about anything from Snickerdoodles cookies to H.C. Porter art to face painting to live entertainment and abundant numbers of decorations.

Also at The Three Gems booth was Sam Hano. “I came from Mobile to be here and look around.”

Across the room, cookbook author Denise Sassone was offering free samples with “Moore’s Grocery” and “Café Sassone.”

The proceeds from “Moore’s Grocery” were going to the Old Court House Museum, and a portion of those from “Café Sassone” are headed to two organizations recovering from Hurricane Katrina — The New Orleans Slow Food Convivium and the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, Sassone said.

If stomachs were full and wallets empty ,“Feliz Navidad,” “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”  were among the musical selections offered to keep the crowd entertained as they shopped.

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Contact Everett Bexley at ebexley@vicksburgpost.com