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Light Up Parade hits Pontiac streets today
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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PONTIAC — Now that the glow of Thanksgiving is fading, Pontiac is ready to move full speed into the holiday season with tonight’s Christmas Light Up Parade.

The parade, which will begin at 6 p.m., will have Santa Claus arrive by fire truck to take up resident in his bright red Pontiac home on the north side of the Livingston County Courthouse, 112 W. Madison St.

Floats bearing toy trains, angels, snowmen and even the Grinch will be making their way through the streets.

The parade will start on Grove Street before making its way across the Vermillion River on Mill Street bridge into the downtown area.

Lori Fairfield, executive director for Pontiac Redeveloping Our United Downtown, said this will be the second year in which the parade is on the day after Thanksgiving. It was on the first Friday of December for the previous six years.

The change was well-received last year Fairfield said, noting the turnout was higher than ever.

“It went over very well and the weather was beautiful,” she said. “You could have probably gotten by with a sweater. There were kids lined up down the block just to see Santa.”

Along with the Christmas-themed floats, there will be others expressing ideas ranging from fantasy to patriotism. A dragon, a butterfly, a Sept. 11, 2001, ground zero firefighter and Marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima all will be represented.

Fairfield said 15 businesses and organizations sponsored the event, and several downtown businesses also will extend their hours so people can shop after the parade.

“The parade is really just a great way to showcase our stores and shops,” Fairfield said.

Strings of white Christmas lights now adorn the trees of downtown Pontiac, and the pillars of the Livingston County Courthouse are wrapped in red paper and garland.



Lighting it up

What: Christmas Light Up Parade

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: The parade through Pontiac will start on Grove Street before making its way across the Vermillion River on the Mill Street bridge into the downtown area.

Santa and more

-- Santa Claus will be in his house on the north side of the Livingston County Courthouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 6 and 22.

-- Breakfast with Santa will be 8 to 10:15 a.m. Dec. 15 at County Market, 406 W. Madison St.

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