Merry Christmas to the children peeking out of their parkas. Merry Christmas to the parents smiling under hooded sweat shirts while clutching the hands of curious toddlers. And Merry Christmas to the grandparents in rain jackets sitting in front of the waving crowd.

John Hough probably shouted the classic Christmas greeting a hundred times to the crowd gathered in downtown Coeur d’Alene for the annual parade and light show. Standing in the back of the North Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association’s float, the co-owner of the Roosevelt Inn in Coeur d’Alene elicited hoots, hollers and more Christmas wishes from the waving crowd as he traveled down Sherman Avenue on a rainy evening.

“Look at all you out here braving the cold like this. Congratulations!” Hough shouted.

Hough and other association members joined high school marching bands, civic groups and other local organizations in the Christmas kickoff parade that’s become a tradition for families across the Inland Northwest. Hough and his crew have done it for about five years. An elaborate fireworks show and tree-lighting ceremony in front of the Coeur d’Alene Resort followed.

Snowy rain hampered the float this year – the lights for a sign shorted out and it was too wet to try the sound system and bullhorn, Hough said. But he made do, eliciting shrieks from children as he questioned them about snowballs and challenging each side of the street to cheer loudly.

“That moose has more Merry Christmas in him than you guys,” Hough jeered a group gathered on a condo balcony with a fiberglass moose statue covered in gold lights. They replied with a loud cheer.

Coeur d’Alene police Chief Wayne Longo estimated the crowd at 20,000.

Some have been going for years. Others, like 7-year-old Anjali Gunning, had never seen a parade or fireworks. She moved to Spokane from India about a year ago and spent the night in Coeur d’Alene with her family.

She didn’t hesitate when her mother, Joyce Gunning, asked her what her favorite part of the evening was: “The candy canes.”