Cracker Christmas Parade, Festival This Coming Saturday In Umatilla

    The biggest day of the year arrives in Umatilla this Saturday, December 9, when the 48th Annual Cracker Christmas Parade and Festival returns, bringing a full day of holiday fun to the community. The fun begins with a morning parade on SR 19 and continues with an all-day festival downtown at Cadwell Park. This year, the event carries a theme of "It's a Rockin' 50's Christmas", with parade entries encouraged to embrace the themed-fun with their entries.
   The festivities begin at 9 a.m. when the parade route goes to the dogs. The annual dog jog will form at Mebane Street and travel north through downtown, with pet owners encouraged to come out with their dogs, in costume if they would like, and show them off to the thousands of parade-goers who will be on hand.
   At 9:30 a.m., the Christmas parade will begin, after forming up at the Southside ballpark. The parade will run north to Bulldog Lane, and again this year is expected to host upwards of 100 or more vehicles.
   After the parade, the community is invited to head one block east, where the arts and crafts festival will be underway. Displays, local vendors, food trucks, Santa Claus, and live entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. from the Umatilla Middle and High School band programs, Showtime USA, and Xtreme Tumblers.
   The event is free to attend and is sponsored by the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce and City of Umatilla.
   To learn more, call the chamber office at 352-669-3511.