GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - There's nothing better than twinkling lights, snowflakes, hot cocoa and of course, Santa, to welcome the holiday season! Just like Christmas, Gridley’s annual Winter Wonderland Festival, Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting is just around the corner.

Downtown Gridley will close down its streets early this December 4th so that food and gift vendors can begin selling their delicious eats and unique treats at 5:00 pm. Head down and grab something yummy to munch on before heading over to the official kick-off of the holiday season, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

At 5:30 pm the holiday season will burst colorfully into life as Gridley’s towering on the Orchard Hospital campus is lit for the year. As always, a program featuring a welcome speech, community song, musical presentation by “Frozen" Princesses Elsa and Anna, Auxiliary Basket Raffle, and closing remarks by Orchard Hospital CEO, Steve Stark. To ease the chill, complimentary hot-cocoa and cookies will be offered courtesy of Orchard. A couple of carols will no doubt precede the countdown to the official tree lighting.

Following that, activities will really start to ramp up downtown. The streets will be filled with music provided by local band “WSD”, Disney princess will make the rounds for photo-ops and of course, everyone’s favorite frosty fellow, Olaf the snowman, will be out and about. The Gridley Museum will be transformed into Santa’s Workshop with workshop workers dressed in fun holiday costumes. The Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce plans to fully decorate the streets and historical building, with snow to fall from the workshops upstairs windows. New this year, Santa’s helpers will be giving our free Christmas stockings stuffed with goodies to all children who visit to get their pictures taken with the big guy himself–Santa.

The Parade of Lights will no doubt be the highlight of the evening. Each year the crowd is awed by colorful and boldly lit floats decked out in non-secular and traditional holiday themes. The Chamber encourages the entry of ATV’s, tractors, and boats in addition to regular vehicles. Parade winners could take home a prize of up to $250, so hurry down to the Chamber of Commerce and sign up. Parade and vendor applications are due by November 22^nd, but may still be accepted after the 23^rd with the application of a late fee.  Late entries cannot be guaranteed.