Just a week left until the return of the Kingfisher downtown lighted Christmas parade and fireworks, one of northwest Oklahoma’s most anticipated holiday events.

The “Candy Land Christmas” parade begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at the Main Street and Robberts Avenue intersection and heading south, ending at the BancFirst parking lot.

With typical crowds estimated at more than 5,000 people, attendees are urged to arrive early to find parking and get settled in to watch the parade.

“It’s not one of those nights that you want to wait until five minutes before the parade starts to be in your spot,” Kingfisher Police Chief David Catron said.

Nitty Gritty Details Traffic will be diverted beginning at 5:45 p.m. at Shafenberg Road, Starlite Drive and Kloeppel Road, Catron said.

North and south traffic on U.S. 81 will be detoured to South 13th Street for the duration of the parade and fireworks.

The Kingfisher street department has assembled barricades which chamber board members will set out Friday evening, Dec. 3, blocking parallel parking spaces on both sides of Main Street from S.H. 33 to Robberts Avenue.

The barricades will remain in place until after the parade. Anyone who moves a barricade to park a vehicle will have the vehicle towed at the owner’s expense, Catron said.

Parade attendees must remain behind the barricades until the parade is over and police officers announce it is safe to move into the street for the fireworks display.

The 100 block of East Miles from Main Street to Sixth Street also will be blocked off until 5 p.m. Saturday, when it will be opened for handicap parking only.

Parking is not allowed in the BancFirst parking lot, along Seventh Street on either side of Robberts Avenue (where the parade will be staged) or within a 300-foot perimeter of Main Street and Sykes Avenue (where fireworks will be staged).

Maps showing restricted areas will be distributed to downtown businesses Monday.

In addition to KPD, the fire department, Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office and Oklahoma Highway Patrol will be helping with traffic control.

Portable restrooms will be available along the parade route, including two handicap units on Miles Avenue.

The city of Kingfisher is placing large trash cans along the parade route and is asking attendees to help keep the area clean.

Now, the Fun Stuff

Arrive early Saturday for dinner or hot drinks at one of the local restaurants or check out what’s being served up at food trucks parked at Block 35 on the 100 block of North Main Street.

After the color guard, Carolyn Flood will lead the parade as marshal and Santa will bring up the rear.

In between will be lighted floats and other entries of all sizes and descriptions.

Festive music will be provided by three marching bands, including Kingfisher’s middle school and high school bands marching en masse and Cashion and Hennessey high school bands.

Thanks to local business sponsors, cash prizes of $500, $400 and $300 will be offered for first, second and third place floats and $400, $300 and $200 for the top three non-float entries.

After the parade, barricades will be moved and attendees will be free to move into the street for the fireworks display, choreographed to holiday music.

And, once the fireworks have ended, Kingfisher Winter Nights will be open to round out the night of holiday fun at Kingfisher Park.

Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shauna Rupp expressed appreciation to her board members, city employees, law enforcement and all the other entities involved in the months of planning to bring together the massive event.

“There are so many details to pull together to make sure it’s safe as well as spectacular,” she said. “It’s definitely a collaborative effort.”