Christmas Parade and Light Up set for Saturday

The annual Christmas Light Up event and Santa Claus Parade is set for Saturday with a host of events in Centennial Park beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Peter Pape, chair of the Olds Fashioned Christmas committee, said volunteers have been busy since January working on the details of events planned.

There were about 15 floats registered for the parade as of the middle of last week, but Pape said more would be welcome.

“We'd really like to see more involvement in the parade,” he said, adding that the committee hopes it will become a signature event, much like the events in the park have become. “I think it would be a real plus for Olds.”

The route has changed slightly this year, starting at the Calouri Pavilion and going past Mount View Lodge, at the request of residents.

More than 300 volunteers from a dozen different community groups have been working on the parade and Light Up since January. Many of those volunteers will be on hand during the events.

“Without all these groups it wouldn't happen,” Pape said.

Pape said several portable light towers will be installed in Centennial Park this year to help light the park during the planned events, which include two mini-trains going through different portions of the park. There will also be hayrides, free hot chocolate and free hotdogs available in the park. Last year more than 2,500 hotdogs were served.

Pape said the committee decided to light up more trees in the park this year than in the past.

Over at the Cow Palace, there will be crafts and face-painting available. A magician and Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be on hand.

In keeping with the digital age, the committee also has a Facebook page and is also on twitter.

“We want to reach out to more people and we feel that using social media is the way to reach out to more people,” Pape said, noting that once this year's effort has concluded, an evaluation of the committee's social media presence will be conducted.