Concho Christmas Celebration kicks off this weekend in San Angelo

The Concho Christmas Celebration is kicking off this weekend in San Angelo with the opening of the Tour of Lights and Christmas parade.

This year is the 29th Annual Tour of Lights with a 2.5-mile driving tour along the banks of the Concho River displaying three million lights and seventy-eight sponsor oversized Christmas Greeting Cards.

This year, the season begins with a soft opening on Friday, December 2 and continues every evening through Saturday, December 31. The Tour of Lights is open from 6-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Vehicles enter at Bryant Blvd. and 1st Street, north of the Main Post Office at 598 W. 1st Street. A voluntary donation of $8 per car is suggested.

"The Tour of Lights is comprised of animated scenes depicting The Twelve Days of Christmas, a Toy Factory, A Gingerbread House, and elaborate nativity scene, reindeer, a National Patriotism Flag, Santa Claus and much, much more," according to the organization's website. "The beautiful poinsettia field light display, located at the San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau building, continues to be a visitor favorite."

With the sponsorship of Reliant Energy and Westlake Hardware, the Tour of Lights has completed the LED light phase-in program.

The organization is also bringing back the annual Lights of Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 3 at 6 p.m.

The parade will begin downtown along Chadbourne and 4th Street and will turn on Concho Ave. and run down Oakes St.

As always, there is no entry fee to be in the parade. Participation is open to individuals, churches, businesses, organizations, clubs, and schools.

There are four requirements to be a participant:

• The theme must be appropriate to the season.
• Each entry must be lighted. The only exception will be for vehicles pulling decorated/ lighted floats. Entries consisting of multiple vehicles (car clubs, motorcycle clubs, or other groups) must ensure each one is lighted in a festive manner. When lighting your entry, it’s a good idea to use at least twice as many lights as you think you need so the people on the float will be visible.
• Please, no excessive noise. The noise does frighten small children and we want the parade to be a happy memory for them.
• No entry of a political nature will be allowed.

If you have any questions, call 325-650-1988 or email smcgee.620@gmail.com.