TEA, S.D. (KELO) - The 32nd annual Parade of Lights reached capacity for the number of floats in the holiday tradition in Downtown Sioux Falls. For the past four years, John Longendyke with Thornton Flooring in Tea has been behind the company's massive float on wheels. New this year, Longendyke says they've added an animation element and of course more lights. "So the first year we had like 25,000 lights that we keep trying to add more and more lights as more and more people come downtown Sioux Falls for the Parade of Lights. So this year we're over 60,000 lights as it keeps growing," John said. This year's crew started building in October and says each year they try to make it bigger and brighter. "We went higher, this year the hoops are larger, they're animated. So you're going to see it as it goes. It's going to look like Santa and the sleigh are taking off as we come down Phillips Avenue so it's going to be a lot of fun," John said. About four to eight people a night come to work on the holiday float.Brady Fritz has been a part of the float-making process since day one. "It's the original truck trailer that we use and we change stuff and add more stuff every year. We drew it up on paper first, a rough idea of what we wanted to do, and kind of winged it after that," Fritz said. Lighting the Holideck tower, Parade of Lights Friday In past years the float has been awarded best workmanship and best use of lights by the city.Andrew Longendyke, John's son, is in the illumination department for the float. But he's also Buddy the Elf who holds the banner as they march down Phillips Avenue. "It's always nice to hear the live feedback is always awesome to see the kids oooing and awwing and the parents just smiling away and everybody having a great time downtown is always a great sight to see," Andrew said. This year's parade has over 70 floats entered.And this year Thornton Flooring has a personal touch to it after one of their co-worker's 9-year-old son passed away this month from cancer. "We have Brady's pack, we have bracelets on our elves on the float, and that is in honor of Brady James Southwick," John said. "He recently passed away so we're all part of Brady's pack and we want to honor him. And so he is on our float and he will always be remembered as part of our family here at Thornton Flooring." "We've integrated them into a lot of the elves and the nutcrackers and the trees to really show respect to Brady, who will always be a part of the float no matter what. He was a part of the team, part of the family and he'll be a part of it forever," Andrew said. KELOLAND Media Group will broadcast the parade live on KELO Xtra and live stream it on KELOLAND.com. The parade begins at 7:30 p.m. along Phillips Avenue between 13th and 5th Street.