Annual holiday tradition in Salinas is back this year after being canceled
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- It's back! Get ready to see the annual Parade of Lights once again in Salinas on Main Street. The Salinas Holiday Parade Of Lights announcing on its Facebook page that the annual parade will be back this year after it was canceled just two weeks ahead of the event.
The city calling it "Salinas' own Miracle On Main Street!" Saying "We are a small committee that works tirelessly for months to make this event happen every year."
The parade will kick off Sunday December 1st on Main Street.
Update: Annual holiday tradition in Salinas at risk of cancellation, city steps up to help
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- This year's Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights parade had announced that it would be canceled two weeks ahead of the event, with the committee planning the same event for 2025. The parade was originally called off on social media, coming as a shock to many, including city workers.
Since then, the City of Salinas has committed to taking over organization and planning of the parade to make sure that this year's event actually happens.
"What's done and what isn't done, then let's get it done," said Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig Friday about the work still needed almost two weeks ahead of the parade date.
Mayor Craig said that despite their limited time, many community members and supporters have offered to help in whatever ways they can. "We're working on sponsorships and volunteer coordinating," said Mayor Crag. "We have hard costs like porter potties and generators that we need to raise funds for."
Mayor Craig says that anyone interested in volunteering in highly encouraged to do so by contacting the Parade of Lights Volunteer Coordinator Carissa Purnell at 916.214.2865 or carissa.purnell@salinasuhsd.org.
The city is seeking 75 volunteers for the parade.
In the original Facebook post announcing the event's cancellation, the organization said they "made a difficult decision and voted to cancel this year's parade due to lack of support. The parade comes together with many moving parts and it just hasn't happened in time.”
That announcement not only surprised residents, but also those involved with the city.
“The city learned of the cancellation by the organizers through social media as well this morning. And obviously that event is meaningful and a huge community event for the city of Salinas," Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig said.
Yet, there may be hope for the parade to once again glisten down Main Street.
“I was - I was disappointed, though, is that, as I understand it, that there are folks trying to see if the show may still still go on," Salinas Mayor-Elect Dennis Donohue said.
The city of Salinas is meeting with organizers to save the parade, even if time is not on their side.
"There's a lot of pieces that have to come together. You need someone who can be there day of to direct all the traffic and direct all the people. You need permits specially to close roads connected to main street. And so you have to go to Caltrans for that. You need money. Money is a real big part of this," business owner Frank Sorvino said.
Sorvino was a previous organizer of the parade for twelve years before handing it off to Esteban Garcia.
He had spoken to Garcia about how one big sponsor of the event might have been a source of the cancellation.
“At the last minute, apparently they wanted to change the name and change the way it happened and all these things. And it almost turned into a kind of a secular issue," Sorvino said. "And I think that once the parties that were involved came together and decided that they weren't going to change the name and do all these things, that the group that was taking it over pulled out.”
With the parade’s fate hanging in the balance, its symbolism goes beyond merely a holiday celebration.
“I think it's an opportunity for folks of all ages to come out and celebrate Salinas, right? A parade of lights is identifying the holiday season, but then also really celebrating us as a community. And it would be a shame if that went away," Mayor Craig said.
“They'll need a little time to see what they can do. And so let's, let's all, let's see if we get miracle on main street," Mayor-Elect Donohue said.
As for current sponsors, they can either get a full refund or roll-over those funds into the 2025 parade.
