Lacey to ring in holidays with largest Lighted Vehicle Parade

Molly Gilmore
·3 min read

In 2020, the only Santa seen in Lacey’s Huntamer Park was the animated illumination that’s part of the park’s holiday light display.

This season, the jolly old elf is back. On Monday, Dec. 6, he’ll be back in his rightful place aboard an antique fire truck at the end of the city’s Lighted Vehicle Parade and then hanging around for the tree lighting to meet young fans and pose for photos.

The parade, a tradition in Lacey since 2016, will happen just as it has in prior years — except that masks are required because of the expected size of the crowd.

“In 2019, we probably had over 3,000 people,” said Jeannette Sieler of Lacey’s Parks, Culture and Recreation Department.

“I’m excited to have people gather again,” she added. “People can spread out and still get a really good view.”

The city had fireworks for the Fourth of July, but people were encouraged to drive up and watch from locations all over the city, so the parade will be the biggest gathering in Lacey in two years.

Sieler’s not the only one looking forward to the event. The parade, expected to last 30-40 minutes, will feature 43 entries, including city vehicles as well as cars and trucks owned by businesses and individuals.

“That’s the most we’ve ever had,” Sieler told The Olympian. “I think before our max was 30, so the parade should be bigger and brighter than last time.”

As usual, the River Ridge High School Band — with instruments decked in battery-operated lights — will be the only pedestrians in the parade. The band leads the parade and then continues playing holiday tunes for the tree lighting, happening just after the parade ends.

The lighting, activated by a big switch shaped like a candy cane, involves not just one tree but the entire park, Sieler said.

The park will be illuminated from 5 to 9 p.m. daily through the end of the year, and the city is keeping a COVID-friendly feature implemented last year: Park visitors can tune their car radios to the station posted at the park and hear a recording of seasonal music and stories.

Lacey Lighted Vehicle Parade and Tree Lighting

More vehicle parades

  • Olympia neighborhood parades: The Olympia Police Department and other city departments will be decked in holiday style for parades at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 in west Olympia, Dec. 9 in southeast Olympia and Dec. 16 in northeast Olympia and South Capitol. For details, call 360-753-8239 or email mmorales@ci.olympia.wa.us.

  • Parade of Lighted Ships: The Olympia Yacht Club will be lighting up Budd Inlet beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6. The boats travel from Percival Landing to Boston Harbor and back.