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Panama City's annual Christmas parade looked like it might have been a washout a couple of hours before its 3:30 p.m. December 14 starting time. But then the rain let up and I made my way down to the parade route, where the crowd was beginning to gather. A lot of needy kids, many brought in from communities around the country, were already playing with toys that various charities, coordinated by Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro, had distributed.

At certain points along the route, bleachers had been set up. This one was occupied well in advance by one of the organized groups of kids and their parents.

A number of vendors set up shop in the environs, and were doing a slow but steady business before the parade began.

As the parade got underway, the rain resumed. This horse and rider went through their fancy footwork despite the drizzle.

OF COURSE Santa Claus is a bombero! Why do you think he wears red?

And this reporter used to think that the Transito cops were the closest thing to outlaw bikers that Panama has....

Some of the bombero bands recruit musicians when they're young.

It does seem that Hollywood culture, the retail industry and the Spirit of Christmas tend to go through strange fusions and mutations at Christmas parades around the world.

The city's float was decidedly less commercial, and also avoided election season messages.

The rain began to come down in sheets of water. Soon after this picture was taken, this reporter was completely soaked and had nothing dry to wipe the rain and fog off of camera lenses. This prompted a return to The Panama News office in search of dry clothes and something hot to drink. The parade did continue, but without this reporter covering it.

Also in this section:
Panama City's Christmas Parade
The kids of the Zonians who stayed
Zonian diaspora: Dothan, Alabama
Special account for Girl Scouts' new roof

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