The 2008 Festival of Lights Holiday Parade Happens Tonight in Salem

With snow, Santa comes to Salem...

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Despite frosty weather projections, the Portland General Electric Festival of Lights Holiday Parade in downtown Salem begins tonight, Saturday, December 13, at 6:30 PM.

With more than 60 entries including bands, illuminated floats, and a special appearance by the man in red himself, SANTA, the PGE Festival of Lights Holiday Parade is a Oregonian holiday season tradition.

The parade starts at 6:30 PM in front of the Capitol Building on Court Street at Waverly, heads west on Court, north on Liberty, west on Chemeketa, south on Commercial, and then heads home, east on State Street. The parade’s estimated finish time is approximately 8:00 – 8:30 PM.

Grand Marshals for the 2009 parade are Majors Jerry and Donna Ames representing the Salvation Army for nearly 30 years.

The Majors are active community leaders and have rallied the community in the efforts to build the new Ray & Joan Kroc Mid-Willamette Valley Community Center set to open in September 2009.

The new Kroc Center is a 40-million dollar, 92,000 sq. foot recreation center open to the community with a focus on the unmet needs of the area’s youth and families. Majors Jerry and Donna Ames have been involved in all aspects of the project for more than 3 years, leading efforts in design, building, and fundraising capacities.

Portland General Electric has been a major parade sponsor for approximately 13 years of the parade’s 19 years. The PGE Festival of Lights Holiday Parade will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2009.

Private chalets are available this year, for covered viewing along the route. Details regarding the route, chalets, and general information can be found on the website at FOLHolidayParade.org.