By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

NEDERLAND — Braving the cold night air to have a holly, jolly Christmas, people lined the streets Thursday to usher in the holiday season with the city’s annual holiday parade.

Even designer dog Noodle the Goldendoodle got in on the action.

The Golden Retriever-Standard Poodle mix saw his first Nederland Christmas Parade this year along with his family, Clint and Leslie Landry and the couple’s three children.

“Doodle is our new Christmas puppy, and this is his first parade,” Leslie Landry said.

The Landry’s said they attend the parade every year. The children like the lights and candy, but it’s the time of year that gets Clint Landry outside in the cold night air.

“It’s just always part of the Christmas season to come out and watch the parade,” he said.

Cool weather prevailed while Santa, festive floats, marching bands, dance troupes and much, much more paraded down Nederland Avenue, onto Twin City Highway, up Boston Avenue and back to Bulldog Stadium.

Staying warm despite the cold temperatures and her last name, Chloe Frost, watched the parade from the warmth of her birthday present — a leopard print Snuggie.

“This is my first time to wear it out in the cold,” the 14-year-old Nederland resident said. “And, it’s pretty warm.”

Down the road, the Guin family, David, 36; Andrea, 31; and 10-year-old Macy, of Nederland, said they attend the event every year, but this year’s parade was special.

“Our daughter is in the band and she will be marching in the parade for the first time this year,” Andrea Guin said.

Each year when the lights start flashing and Christmas carols can be heard, it seems like Christmas has arrived, Andrea Guin said.

“It just seems like Christmas once the floats go by. It definitely feels like Christmas this year since it’s cold. I just hope it stays that way,” she said.

For others, like Nederland’s Fletcher family, the parade brings back memories of yesteryear.

Billy Fletcher and his wife Lisa attended Thursday’s parade with their daughter and her 3-year-old son. Though he came to watch his granddaughter in the parade this year, Billy Fletcher said the parade reminds him of his father.

“My dad used to work for the fire department and used to drive Santa around,” he said. “This has been a family thing as long as I can remember, but it’s really about the kids, seeing their faces.”

skoonce@panews.com