(Le Mars) -- When does the holiday season officially begin?  Well in Le Mars it's this

weekend.  This Saturday Pioneer Village will be opening, Cocoa and Carols will be enjoyed at

the Arts Center and the annual Children's Lighted Parade will be heading down Central

Avenue.

Parade organizer Stan Culley says that not only is the parade a great time for family and

friends, but serves as a memorial for a Le Mars man.

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The first children's parade was held in 1997, which happened to fall on the same evening as

Utesch's funeral.  The parade was them named after him the following year.

The Lighted Children's Parade is made up of private entries, businesses, churches and service clubs and the only requirement to be in it is that you have lights on your float. You don't even have to sign up ahead of time.

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On a side note, Culley does want to make sure that any candy being given out during the

parade should be handed directly to kids and not thrown for safety reasons.

Historically the number of entries and spectators for the parade is directly related to the

weather, and with warm weather expected this weekend, Culley says it would be smart to get to

Central Avenue early to claim your spot.

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Saturday's sparkly spectacle steps off at 6pm at the intersection of 8th Street and Central

Ave, and heads down Central to 4th Street.  Santa will of course be making an appearance on

one of the 13 animated floats in the line-up.

Beginning at 5pm and during the parade the Arts Center will be open with Cocoa and Carols

and Pioneer Village runs from 5pm to 8:30pm Saturday as well.  Pioneer Village will also be

open Sunday night and the following weekend.

Stan Culley sums up this weekend in Le Mars very well...

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