Pleasanton set for holiday parade and tree lighting Saturday … if weather holds

The Pleasanton community is ready for a familiar celebration to usher in the holiday season: the city’s annual Hometown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony, set for Saturday evening downtown.

That is, if the rain cooperates.

The forecast for this weekend is up and down after steadily wet weather earlier in the week, but for now, Pleasanton’s holiday showcase is scheduled to go on — though the city will have a hotline available Saturday to keep the community updated on the event’s status.

The festive parade is set to start at 5 p.m. with dozens of community groups and local dignitaries marching down Main Street or riding in decorative floats, with everyone usually decked out in their favorite (and warm) holiday attire.

Parade entrants include recognizable performers like the famed Balloon Platoon and Foothill and Amador Valley high schools’ marching bands, as well as local elected officials, children’s groups like Scout troops, hot rod clubs, Pleasanton businesses, nonprofit organizations and more.

The celebration will then shift to the main stage at the Museum on Main, where Mayor Jerry Thorne will light Pleasanton’s holiday tree, expected to occur around 6:45 p.m.

The December People will provide musical entertainment, performing familiar holiday songs in the styles of some of the most recognizable rock bands, and Santa Claus will make a special appearance to visit with families there.

Many downtown shops and restaurants will be in the holiday spirit throughout the evening as well.

The annual Hometown Holiday event is presented by the city of Pleasanton each year thanks to the efforts of a core group of resident volunteers and city officials, who begin their efforts with a debriefing soon after the prior year’s event and then dive into planning during the summer.

The 2018 celebration is formally scheduled to run from 5-8 p.m. Saturday. Main Street will close to vehicular traffic starting at 3:30 p.m.

With rain possibly in the forecast, city officials have a plan in place to update residents about the parade’s status in case of inclement weather, via a hotline at 931-5352 and online with hourly updates starting at 2:30 p.m.

The parade would be canceled (and not rescheduled) with any steady drizzle or harder rainfall as of 3:15 p.m. or later Saturday, while the tree lighting would go on as scheduled unless the rain becomes severe.

Visit the city’s holiday parade webpage at www.hometownholiday.com for all the latest details, including information for entrants and volunteers, drop-off instructions, traffic restrictions, event schedule and rain-out protocol.