MISSOULA — The Parade of Lights in Missoula will take place for the 18th year but will be different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year will feature a REVERSE Parade of Lights which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Instead of going through downtown Missoula this year's event will be held along Campus Drive on the University of Montana campus. The floats will be set up along the road and people will be allowed to drive by them, instead of the other way around. The event will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Additionally, instead of the children’s activities being hosted at downtown locations, the kid’s stuff has shifted to free and low-cost holiday take-home activity kits.
“We feel fortunate to have the support we need to actually host a small community celebration,” said Bob McGowan, President of the Missoula Downtown Association Board of Directors. “It’s been a hard year on our community members, and the opportunity to provide some small celebration of the holidays is a good thing. While we’re disappointed we won’t be able to have folks on foot and on bike, we are grateful for the health department’s support and the generosity of our sponsors. Our planning committee has worked some magic to make it all happen!”
Click here for more information about the Parade of Lights.
Prior to the Parade, Shop & Dine Small Headquarters will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the corner of Higgins and Main, and free coupons and gift bags will be available to the public. In addition to the Parade of Lights, the Lighting of the Tree happens every night at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 6 on North Higgins in front of the Historic Northern Pacific Railroad Depot.
