The Current Buzz Newspaper One 12 | Page 9

e Christmas Parades push through downtowns e By By Joe Joe Mack Mack e Photo Courtesy Tulsa Christmas Parade e TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – While nearly every community with a population of 3,000 or more holds some sort of Christmas parade, these are the best of the best that are worth the drive, and we’ve picked/chosen/ arranged them in such a way that they don’t overlap. If you can stand it, we suggest you try all five (or the one nearest to your destination). e e Tahlequah The Tahlequah Christmas Parade of Lights is one of Oklahoma’s largest parades, and will march through downtown at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. Marching bands, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, elves, horses, classic cars and more mark the event; recent parades have lasted near or past the hour mark! For more details call (918) 456-3742. e Tulsa The Tulsa Christmas Parade e kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. The largest Christmas parade in Northeast Oklahoma features dozens of floats and can draw up to 50,000 people to downtown Tulsa to marvel at the Christmas Cheer in motion, especially the festive, helium- filled Christmas balloons! If you’re looking for the big show and spectacle in a Christmas parade, look no further. For more info call (918) 732-9403. None of these Christmas parades near you? Find more parades and to-dos at thecurrentbuzz.net or travelok. com. e Okmulgee The Festival of Lights Parade will hit downtown Okmulgee at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7. Touted as one of Oklahoma’s oldest Christmas celebrations, the Festival of Lights features more than 1 million lights on dozens of floats piloted by local dignitaries, businesses and organizations, all vying for “Best e Miami Of course we Okies say it MY-AM-UH, which is where you should be at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, for the Route 66 Christmas Parade Float” prizes and bragging rights. For more information call (918) 758-1015. through downtown Miami. This year’s theme is “A North Pole Christmas”, and you can count on Santa and his staff to be there like clockwork. For more information call (918) 542- 4481. e e www.thecurrentbuzz.net | 9