The word on the street is that Santa Claus is making a special stop in Downtown Silver City on Saturday, November 29th at 7:00pm for the 24th annual Lighted Christmas Parade. Participants from all over Grant County have been working on their entries in hopes of taking home a prize in Silver City's key kickoff event for the holiday season.

"The number of groups and individuals who come together to make this parade happen each year is inspiring," said parade coordinator Mike Madigan. "It's going to be a great event, filled with music, prizes, floats, horses, and fun. With the number of calls we've been receiving, I imagine it will be a real good time, and a great way to get the holiday spirit flowing."

This year's parade theme is "Silver City for the Holidays," and parade-goers should plan to come early to get a good spot to view the action. the parade route starts at Cooper and Broadway and makes its way down Broadway to Bullard. It turns north from there and makes its way through the historic downtown to College Ave. Parade entries will park on Pope St. for the awards presentation.

So, plan to stay late, too! The Silver City MainStreet Project is hosting an Awards Presentation Extravaganza at Q's Southern Bistro on the corner of Pope St. and College Avenue immediately following the parade. Join us on the heated patio of Q's for live music, warm drinks, special promotions, and the awaited announcement of the parade entry competition winners.

The award presentation will also be the venue for announcing the winner of Silver City MainStreet's 50/50 Raffle and Giveaway. One lucky winner will take home over $2500 in prizes AND 50% of ticket sales. Raffle tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Silver City / Grant County Visitors Center on the corner of Broadway and Hudson in Silver City, or at the Silver City Sun-News on Broadway downtown.

This year's parade participants are:

Vietnam Veterans Color Guard
Silver City Police Escort
Santa's Trolley
Guadlaupe Montessori School
Grant County Cares
Bible Baptist Church
Hidalgo Medical Services
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
Gila Wilderness Riders
First American Bank (the former AmBank)
El Grito Head Start
Church of LDS
First New Mexico Bank of Silver City
LGBT Grant County
Therapeutic Freedom Riders
Alyssia Carrillo
Twirlies Vintage Flag Corps
Foxworth Galbraith
Silver City Daily Press
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
The Door Christian Fellowship Church
Gila National Forest
Sonic Drive In
C&C Auto & Jimmy RV Repair
The Cat in the Hat
Little Toad
Western Bank
Town of Hurley
Marine Corps League
WNMU

Dress warm, and join MainStreet and the residents and visitors who come to town for the 24th annual Silver City Lighted Christmas Parade.

For more information contact Mike Madigan at the Silver City MainStreet Project at 575.534.1700.