Plano to celebrate holidays with community parade

The city of Plano will ring in the holiday season with a lights display by residents and businesses and a parade Friday evening, Dec. 4, extending through the city.

Led by Plano police, Mayor Bob Hausler said that residents can expect to see city vehicles and firetrucks and ambulances from the Little Rock Fox Fire Protection District in the parade. Hausler said the city is encouraging residents to participate and decorate their vehicles.

"We're asking residents to use their imaginations and put whatever decorations they would like on their personal vehicles and have a nice Christmas parade," Hausler said.

Participants in the parade are asked to contribute a voluntary $10 donation per vehicle to help fund the Rockin' Christmas celebration this year, he said, which includes the purchase of grocery-limited gift cards that will be distributed to those in need.

Lineup for the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Plano High School, 704 W. Abe Street, and will head southeast toward Cook Street, continuing straight on North Ben Street before turning left onto West Main Street. From there, the parade will turn right onto Needham Road, left onto Route 34, left onto Waubonsee Drive, left onto Hoffman Street, right onto Eldamain Road, right onto Cummins Street, left onto Klatt Street, left onto Mitchell Drive, right onto Blake Street, left onto Bailey Street, right onto Schaefer Road, left onto Blackhawk Springs Drive, right onto Hale Street, left onto Rock Street and left onto West Street.

The parade will end at Centennial Elementary School, 800 S. West St.

At about 6 p.m. Dec. 4, during the parade, the city will host its annual tree-lighting ceremony outside the downtown train depot, but will be livestreaming the event on Facebook to encourage social distancing and decrease crowds.

The city also is hosting its annual Lights Display at the grass lot next to Lathrop Park and the Plano Police Department. Businesses, clubs, organizations and families are invited to participate by featuring a display in a 10-by-10-foot space; $25 for businesses and families and $10 for nonprofit organizations. Displays will be up through Jan. 6.

The city also has allocated space for food trucks and vendors, as well as Christkindlmarket-style booths. Information about the lights show can be found on the Plano city website, www.cityofplanoil.com.