It'll take seven people, thousands of lights, 18 days and some major creativity for Ace Transportation to top the Christmas parade float that won them first place last year, and Pat Eilers is ready to dive in.

The trucking company's terminal manager and her crew dusted off tons of festive decorations earlier this month to begin working on what will eventually be a Christmas pirate ship.

Eilers said Ace plans to spend between $3,000 and $4,000 on the specially designed float that will don countless light strings - enough to require a 150-kilowatt generator to keep them all twinkling.

"It's huge," she said.

Odessa's Heritage Holiday Parade of Lights is in its 18th year this December. Parade coordinator Debbie Underwood said 50 floats rolled down city streets for last year's event.

Eilers said Ace has had a float in the parade since its beginning.

"We get out there, and we just have a good time," she said.

The parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in front of the Odessa College Sports Center, with $3,500 in prize money up for grabs.
Float registration forms are due by Wednesday.