Kalispell Christmas parade, toy drive Saturday

The Kalispell Christmas Parade will head up Main Street in Kalispell starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, rain, snow or shine.

Hosted by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, the parade will feature dozens of local businesses and organizations decked out in their best Christmas light displays.

The parade will start at the intersection of Main Street and 10th Street, traveling around the courthouse couplet and north until the Center Street intersection.

Spectators are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy valued between $10 and 20 as a donation for Toys for Tots. There will be a toy-drop bin located in front of Valley Bank, next to the DJ booth where Leah Lindsay from Bee Broadcasting will be announcing the parade. The Flathead Marines will be one of the last entries in the parade and will also be collecting toys from spectators lined along the sidewalks.

With the cold weather and expectation of snow, parking will be allowed on the west side of Main Street, however, in order to provide a safe space for children and families to enjoy the parade, parking will be prohibited on the east side of the street. “No Parking” signs will be posted by 2 p.m. on Saturday and Kalispell police will be enforcing the rule and ticketing all vehicles parked after 4 p.m.

Anyone interested in entering the parade should meet at the Flathead City-County campus parking lot on 10th Street at 4 p.m. and look for Kalispell Chamber ambassadors. Registration fees are $20. Contact the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce at 758-2803 or email info@kalispellchamber.com.