Santa greets a fan at last year's Christmas Light Parade. Kris Kringle will make an appearance at this year's parade too. Photo: Courtesy of the Downtown Divas

Downtown Crescent City will transform into a kaleidoscope of color and music, featuring carolers, hot chocolate, Santa Claus and a parade anyone can be part of.

People can fill out a parade application ahead of time or simply show up to 7th Street at 5:45 p.m. Friday, said Billie Kaye Gavin-Tygart, board member of the nonprofit Crescent City Downtown Divas.

“We want as many people to be in the parade as want to be in the parade,” she told the Wild Rivers Outpost. “Anyone can join the parade.”

The annual Christmas Light Parade is held in conjunction with the monthly Live From Downtown: It’s First Friday! event. In addition food vendors, including wine and spirits, the event will feature carolers, a special Christmas tree lighting and, following the parade, Santa will set up shop at the Tsunami Plaza, Gavin-Tygart said. The parade will be held rain or shine, and most businesses will be open late, she said.

According to Gavin-Tygart, the Downtown Divas has hosted the parade for about four years, merging it into their monthly Live From Downtown event, which starts at 5 p.m. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m., she said.

This year, Gavin-Tygart said she and the other Divas hoped to celebrate the Del Norte High School football team’s victory over Encinal in the NCS Division-5 game. But, she said, they’ll be at another game — playing King’s Academy in Sunnyvale — at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“We’re bummed it’s a conflict, but they’ll be in our hearts,” she said. “We might try to do something in honor of them.”

The lineup will begin at 5:45 p.m. on 7th Street and wraps around G Street in Downtown Crescent City. For more information, click here.

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