Including the information that you DON’T want to hear.
It’s Wednesday, the parade is just a few days away, and we all have a LOT of questions. Let’s go over the basics, then we’ll talk about the weather.
For the last seven years, the second Saturday in December has been the date that the Rio Linda/Elverta community kicks off the holiday season. This year is no different. In fact, some events have gotten even bigger!
- From 8:30am to 11:30am, the Rio Linda Elverta Chamber of Commerce, the Rio Linda Elverta Country Lions Club and the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District host a Pancake Breakfast with Santa at the Community Center, 810 Oak Lane in Rio Linda. This free pancake breakfast includes the opportunity to get your family photo taken with Santa himself. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/812700143118774
- Also at 8:30 am, and staying open all day, LeeAnn Williams and Tonia Silva will host a Holiday Bazaar at 825 M Street with local shopping, kid’s crafts, and a lot of fun. Shop Local this holiday season! Over 50 vendors will be set up with custom Christmas gifts for all of your family and friends. There will be Food, games, raffles, and family fun. Come hungry, Breakfast burritos, Philly Cheesesteaks, peanut brittle, and more will be available.
This event has grown so much that this year they are expanding into the church parking lot across the street at 902 Oak Lane (in front of the old library). This event will be open all day and most vendors will be staying through the Christmas light parade. Spend the day in Downtown Rio Linda, get your Christmas shopping done, and shop local vendors. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/479430537444837 - 3pm to 5pm: Cookies with Santa
Join Santa and his helpers at the Community Center for cookies, crafts, and photos with the big man himself. Pre-Registration is required. For more information, Contact the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District at 916-991-5929 - 6pm: The 7th Annual Rio Linda Elverta Christmas Light Parade presented by the Rio Linda Elverta Country Faire! The Parade will kick off from Westside Park and will travel along Rio Linda’s “Main Street” (M Street) from Westside Park on West 2nd Street all the way down to the MarVal Plaza parking lot. We will have marching bands, fire trucks, floats, horsemen, and Santa himself rolling down M Street.
The route for the RLE Christmas Light Parade is the same as always: From Westside Elementary School on West 2nd street, the route will travel north on West 2nd to M Street, where it will turn east and will continue to the MarVal Plaza parking lot.
M STREET AND ROADS CROSSING M STREET
WILL BE CLOSING BEGINNING AT 3:30PM
and will not re-open until
AFTER THE PARADE CONCLUDES.
There is a lot of prep that takes place throughout the day, there are people setting up early for the best vantage points, there is equipment in the streets, and as people arrive there are children and families walking the streets. The disruption to traffic takes place once per year, but it is an absolute necessity. The Sacramento County DOT permit reflects this time span.
Just like last year, there are about 50 entries, plus entries that don’t show up in the numbers, such as Sue Frost, Metro Fire, Twin Rivers PD, Sac Sheriff, etc.
And for the first year, A-1 Storage in Rio Linda will be providing the parade cash prizes; $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd, and $100 for third, as decided by the judges.
The Weather Report
Since day one of the parade in 2016, this has been a RAIN or SHINE event.
However, we’ve not previously faced the kind of weather which is forecast for this year. The National Weather Service in Sacramento is estimating a 97% chance of rain all day Saturday, with sustained winds of 18mph gusting to 32mph at parade time. CBS 13/Good Day Sacramento has singled out Saturday as a “First Alert Action Day”. Weather Underground predicts “Rain and wind. High 52F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.”
So, there are some tough decisions to be made.
I spoke with Parade Organizer Tabitha Worth this morning, who is fully committed to making this event happen, but is also hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.
“Hopeful that the weather will be as kind to us this year as previous years. It is a rain or shine event, however if safety becomes an issue we will have to cancel. Waiting to see if the weather changes and the storm blows by or holds off. Let me talk to the RLE Country Faire board. I am hoping it blows away by Friday too. Or holds off until after our parade, like year’s prior.”
Tabitha Worth
I also spoke with Holiday Bazaar coordinator LeeAnn Williams this morning.
“We are going forward. Rain or shine we will be there. Peanut brittle, hot coffee, lunch, funnel cakes, 50/50 raffle, as well as other raffles. Free kids crafts all day. 50 vendors. The more feedback I get, the more I think I may need to move it inside. The event will happen either way, but we may move it into the church.”
LeeAnn Williams
We have been blessed in previous years, but if rain happens, be prepared. In fact, in 2016 we had rain right up until 6pm, when it stopped. The pictures were great!
I fully expect a decision to be made on Saturday morning, in the best interest of the safety of the participants as well as the community, and also to give this great tradition every opportunity to take place.
Community Christmas Tree Lighting
We’ll have a lighting ceremony at about 6pm as the parade kicks off at Westside Park.
The Rio Linda Elverta Community Christmas Tree is located at Troy Park, where the judges and announcers will be stationed.
Downtown Rio Linda Lamppost decorations
Once again, The Rio Linda Elverta Country Faire will be decorating the light poles along M Street with sponsored Holiday swag and ribbons. These swag decorations will be similar to past years, mounted on the lampposts along the M Street parade route and sponsored by local businesses and organizations. The cost to sponsor is $100.
Participants: There will be NO throwing of any candy or anything of any kind.
HOWEVER, participants are encouraged to hand treats directly to kids along the parade route.
Please, please PLEASE… Bring bags for the children to receive candy from the walkers. They WILL be handing candy directly to the kids. It’ll be a reverse trick or treat where the candy comes to the kids!
PLEASE Bring trash bags. Share them with others who don’t have trash bags.
PLEASE place your trash in the trash bags!
PLEASE police your area and help your neighbors collect trash that’s accumulated.
We can’t afford to have the County send a street sweeper out to clean up. It’s in the thousands of dollars for that to happen. Let’s all pitch in and do our part to Keep Rio Linda Beautiful!
To sponsor a pole, or to help with the tree, contact Tabitha Worth at RLEChristmasParade1@gmail.com or at 916-910-4900.
Parking
Parking is catch as catch can along the parade route; Some popular locations are at MarVal Plaza; Along Front Street near the Depot Building at the Water District; at the Rio Linda Library; at the Methodist church parking lot at 6th and M Street.
