SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Santa Parade hosted by Mix96, or KYMX, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Dec. 9.
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the event, sponsored by Shriners Children’s Hospital of Northern California and Sacramento Regional Transit, will run near Capitol Park in the Downtown District, according to the event’s website.
Laurie Hensley, parade director, said sponsors also include Western Health Advantage, Douglas Feed and Ranch Supply, Macy's and the city of Sacramento.
“We're delighted to have made this a Sacramento tradition for 40 years,” Hensley said. “We know how hard it is to sustain an event, so we are especially grateful that we've made it this long.”
She said sponsors have “literally” saved the parade many times when it was close to shutting down. The Sacramento Santa Parade still runs, she said, when events like Sacramento’s Jazz Jubilee and Festival de la Familia no longer do.
“We have had remarkable luck with the weather for 38 of our 40 years,” she said. “Twice, we have had to cancel for the safety of both our parade units and the audience, but that's a pretty fabulous percentage for a December event.”
The parade, which features live performances from marching bands, dance and cheer squads, starts on 14th and N streets, heads west until turning right on 10th Street, turns right on L Street and finishes after traveling east to 12th Street.
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