Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - Residents, businesses, nonprofit agencies and service groups - the deadline to enter in the popular annual downtown holiday light parade is fast approaching. Heritage Festivals is currently seeking entries for the Sixth Annual Parade of Lights, which will be held Friday, December 12th in historic downtown Yuma.

Deadline for entries is Friday, December 5th, at the Heritage Festivals office inside the former city hall building at 180 W.  1st St.  Contact them via their web site, yumaheritage.org, or by phone at (928) 782-5712.

The parade is an opportunity to bring the community together and provide great exposure to local schools, nonprofit agencies, service groups and businesses.  In years past, this parade has drawn an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 attendees.

Local entertainers will have the opportunity to perform as well.  Currently, carolers, musical groups, mimes, jugglers and other entertainers interested in donating their performance time and talent to this event are being sought as well as parade entries.

The annual Parade of Lights offers cash prizes and trophies to the best float entries.  A $300 grand prize and trophy, provided by Arizona Public Service, will be presented to the float that best illustrates the theme of this year’s parade, “A Sporty Holiday.”  The Best Float honor earns $200 and a trophy; Best Vehicle will be awarded $100; and the best animal act will win a $100 gift certificate.  A best walking/performing band will be treated to a pizza party.

The parade will also feature glow sticks and glow necklace sales by local high schools, which will use the proceeds to raise money for their high school bands.

Spectators are invited to join the parade, which kicks off the Twelve Days of Christmas celebration.  Starting at 8th Street and Orange Avenue, the parade will travel north to 1st Avenue, cross Giss Parkway, turn right (east) on City Plaza and pass in front of City Hall, then cross Madison Avenue and proceed east on 3rd Street.  The parade will turn left on Main Street, go north to 2nd Street, and then turn right (east) on 2nd, ending at Maiden Lane.  Spectators are welcome to bring folding chairs.

For more information, please contact Dorothy Young at Heritage Festivals at (928) 782-5712.