It was Caedmon Schwanke’s first Star City Holiday Parade, and he liked it.

A lot.

Caedmon, 3, waved at the dogs and clowns, stared at the wolf, pointed at the big Elmo balloon as it soared by with Dorothy the goldfish in her bowl.

And when it was over, he thought long and hard before telling his parents, Bryce and Ali, what he liked best.

“Cookie Monster,” Caedmon said.

Even though it passed by his corner of the world at the intersection of 11th and O streets soaring on its back, peering skyward, as balloon handlers struggled to regain control.

Big day for Caedmon, who scored his first big-screen movie before the parade when he saw a free showing of “The Polar Express.”

Big day for Lincoln, which proved once again what an optimistic city it must be by staging a big-time annual holiday parade outdoors in December.

And then attracting what might have been a record crowd exceeding 85,000 in the midst of an economic recession more suited to Scrooge than Santa.

Deb Johnson, executive director of Updowntowners, was reluctant to attach a figure.

“But I know it was more than any of the eight years I’ve done the parade,” she said.  “I think it was a record-breaking crowd.”

It was brisk on the streets with a wind chill in the 20s, but not a problem for kids in parkas and mittens and hoods.

An array of strollers was lined up on the south side of the intersection at 11th and O holding the real judges of this parade.

On the north side, where Caedmon watched, a bunch of Nibbes and Klutes occupied front-row seats along with some standing room.

Nope, not cold, said Morgan Nibbe, 9, who especially likes the big balloons.

“Cool,” said Carter Klute, 9, and he didn’t mean the temperature.

Carter, who has been at every holiday parade since he was 2, said he likes the balloons, the clowns and the bands.

There was plenty of all of the above.

Along with some unusual sights.

* A weary panda trudging along carrying its head.

* “Ho” signs poking out of the Beatrice High School tubas.

* Festive pooper-scoopers trailing a horse-drawn carriage.

* A dark van following close behind the horse-drawn carriage ferrying Gov. Dave Heineman, clad in a red jacket and waving into the wind.

Mayor Chris Beutler swept by earlier in his horse-drawn carriage, and Santa brought up the rear following the Cornhusker Band.

Lady Zorro rode by on a black horse.

Reindeer and pirates and all sorts of costumed creatures walked by.

Caedmon had to take a bathroom break near the end, but he returned in time for Santa.

Bet they’ll both be back next year.

It’ll be a big one, Johnson says, the 25th edition of Lincoln’s downtown holiday parade.

And it will celebrate “magic memories and wishes.”

December 5.

Mark it down.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.