Selena Gomez to headline 2009 parade

View the photo gallery

• Multitasking Selena Gomez tweets about her experience in the parade.
• From left, Children’s heart patient Klaire Hicks, age 9, Selena Gomez and heart patient Shelby Hedgepath, age 13, at the parade.
• Clowns watch the Children’s parade with spectators and volunteers in the grandstands.
• The Townview Center “Big D” Marching Band, 170 strong, quick steps down Commerce Street while playing holiday tunes.
• From left, patients Emily and Shayde Smith join “Jack the Rabbit” and other Children’s patients on a large wagon in the parade.
• Princess Leia and R2D2 from the “Star Wars” classic movie series wave at the crowds watching the parade.
• The six white horses of the Hardin-Simmons marching band lead the high-stepping musicians of the Cowboy Band down the parade route.
• The Hardin-Simmons Cowboy Band.
• The Texas All-Stars Jump Team, jump ropers from all over Texas, performs their “Jingle Bell Rock” routine during the parade.
• Members of HTE Dance perform an energetic version of the Cheetah Girls’ “Five More Days ‘til Christmas.”
• Superhero “Iron Man” shows off his super strength from atop an antique fire engine.
• Brightly colored clowns from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas.
• The Aguila Azteca Ballet Folklorico waves to crowds at the parade.
• Cruella DeVil, the villainess from “101 Dalmatians,” the musical, playing at Dallas’ Fair Park.
• Frosty the magical snowman spreads his frosty arms high above the parade route.
• Children’s employee and parade volunteer Lori Wilson sells colorful balloons.
• Mrs. Claus and Children’s patient Allison Wright, age 7, send greetings to the crowd.
• Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, center, watches the parade spectacle from the grandstands.
• That merry old elf, Santa Claus, wishes the best of the holiday season to the crowd as he makes his appearance at the end of the parade.

Mark your calendars. Save the date. The 22nd Capital One Bank Adolphus Children’s Parade is set to begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, and travel along Commerce Street in downtown Dallas.

The annual parade is eagerly anticipated by many in the Metroplex as the start of the holiday season. A special treat for the 2009 edition is that the multi-talented Selena Gomez, recording artist and star of Disney’s hit show “Wizards of Waverly Place,” will visit her hometown to make a guest appearance.

Supporting the needs of children is nothing new to Selena, who grew up in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, Texas. Named the youngest UNICEF ambassador, the teen star has a passion for helping kids around the world, now including those in her own backyard.

“We are thrilled to have Selena join us for the parade and to become a member of our Children’s Medical Center fundraising family by virtue of this exciting appearance,” said Pete Kline, President of the Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “Selena is very special to all of us in Dallas, and her generosity and caring spirit serves as an inspiration to our young patients.”

All proceeds benefit Child Life department

In addition to Selena, friends like Miss America, Strawberry Shortcake and Spider-Man will thrill both the young and the young-at-heart. More than 10 giant inflatables, high-stepping marching bands and dazzling decorated floats will make their way down Dallas city streets. Dozens of past-patients from Children’s will also ride in the Parade as shining examples of the miracles that take place at the hospital every day.

The parade is free and open to the public. A crowd of more than 350,000 is expected.

All proceeds from the parade benefit the Child Life department at Children’s Medical Center, a family-centered outreach effort that provides non-medical services to patients and their families to help them cope with hospitalizations and recovery.

Tags: Selena Gomez , Wizards of Waverly Place , Capital One Bank , adolphus , child life , children , parade , tickets