Cathy Cowley and Colleen Halverson providing music
Pete Giljohann and Pat Carney
The 13th Annual SaddleBrooke Christmas Golf Cart parade took place on Dec. 15, and it was a great success. The weather cooperated, and there were many, many folks who came to look at the decorated golf carts at the RoadRunner Grill and SaddleBrooke One driving range before the parade started. As the parade got underway, big crowds of residents watched along the golf course and roads and cheered as the lighted golf carts went by.
The parade route was shortened this year and started off on the golf cart path of the SaddleBrooke Golf Course. It went by the beautiful homes on the pond near the intersection of SaddleBrooke and Ridgeview Boulevard before going up Ridgeview to the Catalina Golf Shack and beyond. There was a spectacular finish as the lighted golf carts came down Howlands Highway to finish at the RoadRunner Grill.
This year, with so many carts and homes decorated, there were awards for the top three in both categories. A few years ago, the Parade Committee decided to spread the joy around to award different residents as winners each year.
To stage a parade like this takes a lot of work and many folks who volunteered to help. Obviously, the toughest job is to pick the Best Decorated Carts and Homes. This year, a big thanks to Pat Carney, Gwen Sherwood, and Lexi Phillips for serving on the committee choosing the Best Decorated Homes and Golf Carts.
Many thanks, once again, to Colleen Halverson and Cathy Cowley who provided us with great Christmas music on their accordions before the parade.
Thank you to our parking and traffic control people, Dale Boschke, Ric Nicholson, Jim and Carol Dolian, Paul Belanger and his daughter Amber, Dotti McKee, Jim Shupe, and Brent Carlson, and the SaddleBrooke One Patrol.
A big thank you to the entire RoadRunner Grill staff. They did a great job putting in extra hours to serve participants and spectators before and after the parade.
John Carney led the parade once again this year and mapped the new parade route and worked on it for many months.
Also, a thank you to Brianna Reed, SaddleBrooke One’s new website administrator, who took pictures and is posting them on the SaddleBrooke One website.
SaddleBrooke residents once again stepped it up, and there were many amazing decorated golf carts, with 10 finalists.
The 2025 Best Decorated Cart was the cart of Brian Lanier and Laura Gilliam. It was decorated as a snow scene with a toboggan run down a hill. Second place went to Janet and Dennis Williams. The cart was decorated as the Wise Women following yonder star. Third place was the cart of Janet Singler who had a Dr. Seuss Christmas theme.
The 2025 winner of the Best Decorated Home was Bill and Jan Graf of 65505 E. Canyon Drive. Second place went to Bill and Kathy Behan at 36578 S. Rock Crest Drive. Third place was the home of Margie Vanderworp at 62714 Mesa Crest Court.
The Best Decorated Golf Cart and Best Decorated Home winners received a trophy and a special lighted Christmas village with a golf cart theme from The Battery Guy of Tucson and Kartz Fore Kidz. The second and third place winners received a special Best Decorated Golf Cart medal.
Once again, thanks to all who participated and helped in this year’s parade.