The 2009 Leavenworth Holiday Lighted Parade will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 in downtown Leavenworth.
According to Wendy Scheidt, executive director of the Leavenworth Main Street Program, the parade has grown each year and participants look forward to decorating their floats creatively in accordance with the theme.
Civic, school and community groups make floats and dress in holiday costumes and trim their parade entries in garlands of lights.
“We encourage walking entries, including horses and dogs with lighted items,” Scheidt said. “Our theme this year will be ‘Songs of Christmas’ in keeping with the Holiday Open House theme.”
For a list of Christmas songs to help when decorating for the theme, visit www.leavenworthmainstreet.com. The Web site also will offer the parade application and guidelines.
The parade will begin at Haymarket Square, travel north on Seventh Street to Delaware Street, east to Esplanade Street and end at Leavenworth Landing Park, where the festivities will begin such as the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony. Christmas carols will be sung and Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet both children and adults.
Costumed characters will be interacting with the children during the parade. The parade will end at the Leavenworth Landing parking lot where the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place.
The evening will conclude with fireworks over the Missouri River sponsored by the city of Leavenworth.
Each entry in the parade must be lighted. Awards in several categories will be presented. Rules for participation are on the application.
The parade will be held even if it is raining or snowing.
For more information, contact Leavenworth Main Street at 913-682-3924 or Wanda Thrasher at 913-651-2921 or berkayantiques@yahoo.com.
