How to get ready for rainy city Christmas parades this weekend in Modesto, valley
It’ll be a holly, rainy Christmas for many cities as they kick off the holidays this weekend.
Cities across the Northern San Joaquin Valley will celebrate the start of the Christmas season with parades and other festivities despite weather reports warning of wet days ahead. The “rain or shine” clause on various holiday celebrations will be put to the test as the National Weather Service forecasts rain, with some wind gusts, both Friday and Saturday.
The City of Riverbank canceled its holiday kickoff last weekend due to weather. And Livingston is also canceling its planned parade and street fair on Dec. 6.
Still, the majority of area cities are continuing despite the wet weather. City of Modesto Recreation Coordinator Tony Amaral said it would take a “significant weather event such as lightning or severe winds to cancel.”
Weather Service meteorologist Hannah Chandler-Cooley said a winter storm will move into the Modesto area on Friday. Rains should start late Friday afternoon. Heavier rain is forecast Friday evening and overnight and then Saturday evening into Sunday, with as much as 1 to 2 inches accumulation.
Wind gusts will be up 20 to 25 mph Friday night and about 20 mph Saturday, but no lightning is expected.
“It’s a pretty significant system, and with all the leaves hanging around from last storm, those can clog drains and see some localized street flooding and sidewalk flood,” Chandler-Cooley said.
The highs will be around 60 degrees with lows about 50 degrees both Friday and Saturday, when most of the region’s holiday festivities are planned.
A look at when holiday celebrations are happening across the region this weekend and what to do in case of rain. Hint: bring an umbrella, bundle up and don’t forget the galoshes.
Columbia - Dec. 6-7: Christmastime in Columbia in the 1850s will be re-created both days rain or shine. Participants will be guided through the decorated town during the walking play. Tours are every 15 minutes beginning 6:30 p.m. Friday (last tour at 7:30 p.m.) and 5:30 p.m. Saturday (last tour at 7:15 p.m.). Tickets are $25. Call 209-532-3184.
Livingston - Friday, Dec. 6: The Livingston Lighted Christmas Parade and Gift Fair scheduled for Dec. 6 is canceled. Instead, the city will have an abbreviated Christmas Tree Forest lighting event at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, on Main Street with the junior high school band and hot cocoa for participants. Call 209-394-8830.
Turlock - Friday, Dec. 6: The Turlock Christmas Parade will start at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street rain or shine, barring unexpected heavy wind gusts. This year’s theme is Christmas at the Arcade. The lighted parade sponsored by the Turlock Firefighters Local 2434 will begin at Canal Drive and travel down Main Street. Call 209-668-5594.
Ceres - Dec. 7: The annual Ceres Christmas Festival and Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Smyrna Park on Moffet Road. The festival, with crafts, pictures with Santa, refreshments, carnival games and more, will be moved under a covered picnic area in the park in case of rain. The parade will go on as planned starting at 7:30 p.m. at the park to commemorate the opening of Christmas Tree Lane. Call 209-538-5628.
Hughson - Dec. 7: The annual Hughson Christmas Festival will run rain or shine from 3:30 to 7 p.m. in downtown Hughson. Santa’s Workshop for Kids will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Hughson Senior Community Center and include holiday cookie decorating, letters to Santa, free pictures with Santa and a Christmas movie with popcorn. The Christmas Lighted Parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hughson Sports and Fitness Complex and finish in dowtown Hughson. After the parade, there will be a tree lighting with hot cocoa. Call 209-883-4054.
Modesto - Saturday, Dec. 7: The city of Modesto’s annual Celebration of Lights parade and its accompanying Downtown Extravaganza will go on rain or shine. The Dickens Fair will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 15th Street between I and J streets with costumed carolers, a street fair, farmers market, tours of the McHenry Mansion, free children’s activities at the McHenry Museum and carriage rides. Breakfast with Santa runs 8:30 to 11 a.m., hosted by the city and North Modesto Kiwanis at the Senior Center.
Festivities continue into the evening with the Rockin’ Holiday and Celebration of Lights starting at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of 14th and I streets. Some 90 floats are entered this year around the theme Candyland, and the parade is expected to last an hour and a half. Afterward, join the annual tree lighting ceremony and kickoff of Rockin’ Holiday at Tenth Street Plaza throughout the month that will feature lights, garland, retro decorations, snow machine flurries, the U.S. 191st Army Band and more music. Call 209-577-5344.
Oakdale - Dec. 7: the Oakdale Old-Fashioned Downtown Christmas and Christmas Parade will go on rain or shine. The downtown event runs from 4 to 9:30 p.m. on North Third Street with some 60 vendors, wagon rides, carolers, pictures with Santa and more. The Christmas Parade will run from 5 to 6 p.m. starting at Oak Avenue and Poplar Street and then ending on Third Street. Call 209-493-8160 or 209-840-2273.
Waterford - Dec. 7: City officials have decided to cancel Waterford’s annual lighted parade due to the rain. The parade and celebration will not be rescheduled. Call 209-874-2328.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
