Richardson's holiday season starts filling its calendar next week. Entry applications for the city's 54th annual Christmas Parade open Monday, Oct. 26, and stay open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.
The parade steps off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on the west side of town. The route follows Coit Road from Cherrywood Drive to Melrose Drive at J.J. Pearce High School. This year's theme is "Favorite Holiday Movies," and the city invites entrants to play on it with costumes, decorated vehicles, pets and floats.
How to enter
- Entry costs $25 for individuals and nonprofit groups such as churches, school clubs and community organizations, and $100 for businesses.
- Every entry also brings at least one new, unwrapped toy; groups are encouraged to bring several. The city asks for no skateboards, bicycles or scooters. Toys go to Heights Recreation Center, 711 W. Arapaho Road.
- Fees and toys benefit the Network of Community Ministries.
- Entries with motor vehicles must show proof of insurance for each vehicle, and walking groups should be able to cover about 3 miles round trip, since there is no return shuttle.
Friends of the Parade packages, which include reserved parking and bleacher seats near the parade's midpoint, cocoa and breakfast snacks, also go on sale Oct. 26 at $25 a ticket or $75 for four. Holders must check in by 7:45 a.m., before roads close at 8.
Santa's Village is going up
Work began this week at Huffhines Park on Santa's Village, the miniature holiday town the city has run for more than 30 years. The buildings are in place, and decorating starts in November.
New this year is an evening for adults 21 and older on Friday, Dec. 4, the night before the village opens, with holiday drinks for sale, a DJ and photo spots. Tickets are $15 and must be bought ahead of time.