The City of Turlock is ready to show area residents just how much Christmas rocks with the 2013 Downtown Christmas Parade.
This year’s theme is “Rock’n Through the Holidays,” where each float will be interpreting the theme differently. The party starts at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the corner of Canal Drive and Main Street. Bands, youth groups, school clubs and more will wind down Main Street all the way to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.
“It’s a great event for our community,” said Karen Packwood, Turlock Recreation Supervisor. “It’s a tradition for a lot of people. It’s great for the community in the sense of the number of spectators that come every year— they’re not just from Turlock but from other local cities as well.”
Packwood went on to say that here were an estimated 31,000 people present for last year's parade. This influx of consumers helps to support local businesses.
“I go to the parade with my family every year,” said Ashley Stinson, a long-time attendee. “It's a good, festive time – there are lots of vendors on the street, and a lot of the shops are open. I like to buy kettle corn to eat while we watch the parade, and usually some hot cocoa, too. It's easily one of my favorite things about the holiday season.”
The sponsors of the parade this year are the Turlock Firefighters Local #2434, with the Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau as a co-sponsor.
There will be a number of road closures starting at 8 a.m on Dec. 6. Roads will remain closed until the parade ends. Packwood mentioned that it’s the city's goal to get everything back open by 10 p.m. that evening.
For more information, contact Turlock Parks, Recreation & Facilities at (209) 668-5594.
