Businesses and local organizations are encouraged to help jump start the Christmas festivities by entering a float in the parade. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and travels along Main Street, ending at Harmon Park.
Diane Hagen, executive director of the Williston Chamber of Commerce, said the parade route begins in front of its office at 10 Main St. Hagen said the annual parade is a great way to "kick off the Christmas season" in providing entertainment for families, as well as getting people in the holiday spirit.
"Downtown businesses will be open a bit later and there will be vendors at Harmon Park and on Main Street," said Hagen.
The parade is followed by a ceremony in Harmon Park at 7 p.m., leading to the lighting of the city's Christmas lights. "It will culminate with the lighting of all the Christmas decorations. The lights in Harmon Park are not the only lights that will be lit. We also will have lights along Main Street, the railroad park and the Million Dollar Way," said Hagen.
The theme for this year's parade is "The Light of Christmas."
Hagen said the chamber is currently asking local businesses and organizations to consider making and entering a float. She said the parade usually has around 25 floats entered. If possible, the chamber wants to see even more this year.
"The more the merrier," said Hagen.
The chamber encourages anyone who enters a float to be creative and enter any kind of holiday themed float.
"It will be judged as long as it has lights on it," said Hagen.
Hagen said floats can be as varied as a sleigh, a buggy, a truck filled with holiday singers or even things such as a fish house or an oil rig design. She said the parade entries are always fairly creative and the crowd enjoys them even more with the extra creativity.
Hagen added the chamber float features area WWII veterans who went on the Rough Rider Honor Flights to Washington, D.C.
One of the things Hagen said is interesting about the parade is there is no entry fee for the floats and they tend to just show up at the chamber in time for the parade.
She said others such as carolers from area groups or churches show up too, adding to the festive atmosphere.
At the James Memorial Art Center that evening, there also is a performance by the City Strings, which is to play Christmas music.
Hagen said people and businesses are aware the parade is coming and preparations are going very well. Also a positive for the parade is the warm weather.
"I would think that it's going to be a kind of light Thanksgiving in terms of weather," said Hagen.
She said this should make the event all the better, saying the weather was poor during last year's parade.
Hagen said despite the weather, people still come out and show their holiday spirit.
"We're pretty tough and hardy here in North Dakota. People would still come out, line up their cars along the route and watch."
First prize in the float competition is $150 in Chamber Bucks, second place is $100 and third place $50.
Anyone not entering a float but wishing to share food, hot chocolate or bring out a choir or group of carolers are welcome before and after the parade.
For more information about the Light Up Harmon Park parade, contact the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce at 577-6000.
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