Turlock City News

Turlock Festival of Lights & Lights on Parade Info for Vendors/Entries

Details: Published: Saturday, 07 November 2009 20:33; Written by Trina Walley - trina@turlockcitynews.com

The Turlock Christmas tree lighting and Christmas parade deadlines are coming up. TurlockCityNews.com has some info here and contact information if anyone is interested in joining the festivities.

Festival of Lights

Turlock Downtown Main Street Christmas Lights on Parade 2008

Turlock Downtown will once again transform Main St. Turlock into an evening of dazzling lights, entertainment, shopping, and fun for the entire family known as the Festival of Lights.

The Festival of Lights is an event centered around the lighting of the Central Park Christmas tree on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Last year’s 2008 Centennial version of the event included the unveiling of the John Mitchell statue and the first lighting of the “new” Downtown Christmas tree. The old tree was removed for health and safety reasons.

An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people came out for the festive time.

This year’s 11th Annual Turlock Downtown Festival of Lights will take place on November 27, 2009 from 4pm – 9pm.

The Christmas tree lighting countdown will be at 6:45pm to 7:00pm sharp at the Golden State Blvd + Main St. corner of Central Park.

Carriage rides, pictures with Santa, special shopping opportunities, entertainment, and fun for the entire family will be going on throughout the special night that draws around 8,000 people.

For more information, Street Vendor Booth applications, and Sponsorships, call Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association at 209-634-6459 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Lights on Parade

A magical nighttime lighted holiday parade will illuminate Historic Main Street on December 4, 2009 at 6:30pm.

This event draws over 10,000 people all at one time so get there early! Plan on buying hot chocolate/coffee, shopping the stores & vendors before & after, and then of course, watching one of the best illuminated nighttime parades around.

Every since the Turlock Christmas Parade moved from the long time traditional Saturday mornings, thousands more people have come out for the Friday night Lights on Parade.

The nighttime lighted Christmas Parade began six years ago and drew approximately 5,000. Last year’s 2008 parade brought an estimated 12,000 out in the 50 degree temperature to thickly line Main Street and Broadway Avenue, where it turned to finish at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.

The Turlock Downtown Holiday Faire also brought people out early to shop the downtown businesses, enjoy street vendors, hear live music, take pictures with Santa, and go for a carriage ride.

The event will again include the previously listed while the now traditional Free Carriage Rides will be offered from 4:30pm until 8:30pm and Pictures with Santa will be taken from 5:00pm until 7:00pm.

Coldwell Banker Endsley & Associates (331 E. Main Street) will continue to host a Gingerbread House Competition Fundraiser (judging, winners, café, silent auction, photos, and more) for Verda’s House, a children’s crisis center here in Turlock.