Montclair Village celebrated Halloween in fine form today.  With great weather to lure crowds, our small-town parade went off without a hitch.  The parade route began near the Lucky’s Market, proceeding down Mountain, LaSalle, Moraga and into Montclair Park.

Our local VIPs kicked off the parade this afternoon, and we were able to capture all of them.  We felt almost like those TV entertainment reporters, capturing the movers and shakers.  Here’s some photographic proof.

District 4 Council Rep Jean Quan – Pictured above, Jean Quan was handing out California poppy seeds to the awaiting parents and kids who had queued up to parade.  (We nabbed a couple packets at an earlier Farmers Market, though never planted our orange beauties.)  A little while later, Quan kicked off the parade itself.

Montclair Mayor Little Bear – Next we see Little Bear, the elected leader serving Montclair District, as the lead pooch drove by.  Several other canine leaders appeared in the next car, including the vice mayor, deputy dog and other cabinet officials.  We eventually met up with Little Bear in person, who was busy reviewing local trees.

Wells Fargo Horses – What’s a Western parade without some equine presence?  We see the lead horse, followed by four handsome steeds (we think) pulling the old-fashioned Wells carriage.  Our neighbor used to run a stable near Redwood Regional Park, and he told us they used to ride their horses during earlier Halloween parades.

Skyline High School Band – It’s Halloween, so our local high school band came dressed as ghosts and other ghoulish characters.  They performed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which is de rigueur this year.  Here you see the band completing their march down Mountain, as our Oakland policeman looks at what’s next.

Oakland Fire Truck – We love this close-up of a shiny truck driving down the parade route, as we bowed and gave thanks to these first responders.  After the parade, we chatted with the firemen and asked who had performed the Miss America wave so well.  One fessed up but clarified that we got it wrong – he was doing the Queen Elizabeth version.

Not pictured here? The hundreds of parents and kids who followed these VIP paraders.  Everyone sauntered down the Lions Club parade route, stopping frequently for candy offered by many shop-keepers.  Eventually, the paraders made it to Montclair Park safely – and the 2009 edition of Montclair’s Halloween Eve entered the history books.

More info:  Click to read about Montclair Halloween’s Award Winners.