We are in the holiday season when everything happens so quickly. We cannot take a pill to stop time, unfortunately. And, there is no way to start over. The truth is, we are only moving forward from here, so fasten your seatbelt and fly like a DeLorean!

I love to watch a good movie around this time. A Hallmark show is great because everything is perfect. A family car ride in a convertible always shows everyone wearing clean and pressed clothing while their hair barely moves as the strong breeze swirls around them. A Hallmark family always agrees on doing the same things together.

We had this same scenario for my family in 2018; we went to a theater on Christmas day. It was all great until we wanted to find a row with four seats together. The theater was packed and we asked a lady if she would mind moving down ONE SEAT so we could all sit together. She refused, which meant one of us had to sit on the other side of her. It was strange to say the least. This lady had a “bah humbug” moment and it ruined our Hallmark snowglobe experience. You can just imagine our hair standing on end as our clothes shriveled into wrinkled globs. It was time to eat more candy to keep our mouths shut.

Transporting back to the present, “Back to the Future” is a movie and it is this year’s theme for the Lights Above the Clouds Parade. The event takes place on Dec. 7th from 6–8:30 p.m. The whole downtown becomes a winter wonderland in Woodland Park.

Three nonprofits who are part of SOAR facilitate the event and the money raised from these activities serves their work in the community. This year, Divide Mountain Explorers, the Rotary Club, and Toastmasters Above the Clouds bring the parade to you. It begins at 6 p.m. on Midland Avenue and at the end there are fireworks set off at Woodland Station.

The afterparty and award ceremony are at the Ute Pass Cultural Center this year. Ray De Mers begins by playing Christmas music. Then, the Summit Singers and students from Merit sing songs. The Crazy Hat Contest is hosted by Williams Log Cabin Furniture and it happens between performances along with the trophy presentations for the parade floats. The bar is open with special adult beverages and around the room there are free cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. THIS will be the making of our WP Hallmark movie! It is one I would happily pay for but this performance is free. I hope to see you there (with perfect hair, clothing, and smile) as we get back to the future in style.

Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or 719-233-9902 if you want your nonprofit to be part of this column or to be part of the Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Gayle Gross has worked with nonprofits in the community since 1998. Now, she facilitates SOAR’s Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. – 10:45. The group meets at Reserve Our Gallery or at a nonprofit’s location. Join the group on March 12 at the gallery.