The brightest night of the year in Chilliwack is set for Saturday.
The 2014 Rotary Christmas Parade is set to start at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, but there are many pre-parade activities starting at 1 p.m, with two entertainment stages, food trucks and more.
Organizers made the start time earlier at 5:30 to make it easier on young families. There will be some limited covered seating for those with limited mobility at Mill Street and Wellington.
The other innovation is they'll be live-streaming the parade starting at 4 p.m. at www.chilliwackchristmasparade.com so out-of-town relatives can watch their loved ones go by and get a peak at the performers.
There's lots of varied pre-parade excitement slated so everyone can spend a good part of the day checking it out. They can walk around, shop, have a snack and listen to some music.
Road closures start at noon in the area, and roll through the afternoon in the downtown.
To see the detailed route and closure info, and live streaming of the event go to www.chilliwackchristmasparade.com
Early Saturday afternoon will be a hive of activity with an outdoor market, food trucks and more near the Rotary entertainment stage at Five Corners Park featuring performances by great local acts.
Here's the schedule: The Rotary Entertainment stage will see Belle Voci singers at 1 p.m., Secondary Characters at 2 p.m., singer-songwriter Matt Lowen at 2:30, Agassiz elementary 3 p.m., Doug Wickers and friends 3:30 p.m., Gospel brass 4 p.m. and country star Todd Richard at 4:30 p.m.
On Wellington Avenue, the Vineyard Community Centre will be hosting an indoor market, starting at 2 p.m. with children’s crafts.
A second stage, 89.5 The Drive stage will be outside Decades with Tractorgrease talent and more starting at 4 p.m. Don't forget to take a selfie with Santa at Coffee+ on Yale Road East.
Brought to everyone by a generous host of volunteers, three Rotary Clubs of Chilliwack, and the City of Chilliwack, the beloved Christmas parade takes the same route - rolling west from a spot near Evergreen Hall, along Corbould and then onto Wellington and then along Yale Road east.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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