Parade of Lights Brings Christmas To Woodstock

Christmas will come a few weeks early tonight in downtown Woodstock.

The city tonight will hold its 17th annual Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights. The parade gets underway at 5:30 p.m. The route will start at the old Walmart along Main Street near Highway 92 and make its way northbound towards the central business district and veer left onto Rope Mill Road. 

The parade will end at Woodstock Elementary School. 

Before the parade at 4:30 p.m., residents can stop by the Park at City Center and patronize food vendors.

After the parade, the Park at City Center will be the center of activity as a slew of activities will take place such as : visit with Santa Claus at the gazebo, park and Christmas tree lighting, awards for best parade floats and recognition of the Barbara G. Ingram Citizen of the Year, free marshmallow roast with s'mores and cookies, free moonwalk for children, music and Christmas vendors.

Children will also be able to mail their letters to Santa at the park. The mailbox will be set up through Dec. 18, and Santa will respond with a personalized letter. 

At 8 p.m., two free movie screenings — How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Shrek The Halls — will be shown on the lower level of the park.

If you're feeling charitable, the Woodstock Jaycees is asking the public to donate unwrapped toys for its annual Christmas Toy Drive. 

Saturday is expected to bring rain to Woodstock, and the city notes the parade and event will go on as scheduled if the precipitation is light. However, if "serious or dangerous" weather forces the city to cancel the event, it will update its website to reflect the status of the festivities. 

If the event is cancelled, it will not be rescheduled.

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