The 64th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade is this Saturday from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
This year’s parade will repeat the much longer, safer route introduced in 2022 for what is the second-oldest holiday parade in Hawaii.
Please note this year’s parade will start a half hour later (at 6 p.m., not 5:30 p.m.) and will include a minor route change at the start of the parade.
Featuring more than 60 lighted entries, including many festively “dressed” trucks and other big rigs, units will stage in Waimea Park, and beginning promptly at 6 p.m., turn out onto Kawaihae Road next to Waimea Community Center and across from Habitat for Humanity’s RESTORE, proceed to Lindsey Road and onto the main intersection, turn left onto Mamalahoa Highway (Hwy 19) to pass through town center, then right onto Pukalani Road, then right onto Ala ‘Ohia Road, and end at the Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park.
Lighted units will remain at the District Park for post-parade viewing.
Traffic advisory: No cars will be moving along the parade route from 5:55 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. but emergency vehicles will be able to respond as needed. Spectators must stay on the curb and sidewalks or grass so that emergency vehicles can pass by quickly if needed and for the safety of all. The public and businesses are urged to plan ahead to avoid delays because there will be no vehicular traffic from west to east or east to west thru Waimea town during the parade.
Theme for the 2024 parade is “A Waimea Christmas Memory,” and is expected to include entries reflecting favorite parade and holiday moments from years gone by. HECO’s “Big Ben” Toys for Tots lighted train — always a favorite of the wee ones — will again join the parade.
There will be 20 sponsored narrator stations along the longer parade route (up from 18 last year), and most will have a nearby lighted porta lua. All narrator stations will have trash bags to be used by spectators, first aid kits and a fire extinguisher for the public’s convenience and health-safety.
Sponsors include Ace Hardware, Beit Aloha Eloheim, Big Island Mechanical, DeLuz Trucking, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawai’i Preparatory Academy, Kamuela Inn, W.M. Keck Observatories, Kenworth Hawai’i, Lex Brodie’s, Parker Ranch, Parker Ranch Center, Parker School, Puna Plantation/KTA Super Stores, Stadia Financial and Waimea Community Association.
Also along the route will be about a dozen food trucks grouped together in two locations — in the parking area fronting historic Pukalani Stables and the gravel lot immediately south of Waimea Elementary and Middle Schools adjacent to Ala Ohia Road. Participating food trucks in the lot behind the schools will include Jaw Jacker Grindz, Paniolo Churros, On Top of Mauna Kea and Mahina Mea. Trucks in the Pukalani Stables parking lot include HIBAO, Kapua’s Snack Box and Wilson’s Snack Shack.
While parade spectators may set up their own tents along the parade route for viewing, absolutely no barbeques, hibachis or open fires are permitted and special care must be exercised to avoid accidentally starting a grass fire with any kind of lighted objects including heated cars.
As always, Santa has confirmed participation in the parade on a magical float created by the staff of Canada France Hawaii Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory.
Immediately after the parade, Canada France Hawai’i Telescope will again host its annual Star Party at its Waimea headquarters with star gazing/viewing (as weather permits) outside and inside, make and take crafts, and goodies including hot chocolate.
Before the parade, the Hawai’i County Band will present an hour-long concert at Parker Ranch Center from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and then will hop on board a float created for them by the Parker Ranch ‘ohana to lead off the parade.
For more information, go to www.WaimeaTown.org/parade.