Holiday events start this week in Merced County

With the Thanksgiving leftovers packed away, Christmas-themed events are just around the corner in Merced County.

The Active 20-30 Club plans Merced’s annual Christmas parade, a holiday run and a craft fair. The events start with the fair, which will close portions of Canal and Main streets beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

The club plans for craft and food vendors in that area from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and local performers in front of Bob Hart Square every hour.

Several races are also planned that day as part of the Jingle Bell Run, which begins in the 500 block of West Main Street and goes through downtown.

Race times are staggered after 11 a.m. The fee for the 2-mile run or walk vary depending on age and when participants register. For details and to register for the race, go to www.mercedjinglebellrun.com. The event benefits Toys for Tots.

The parade kicks off at 3 p.m. on West Main Street, and the tree will be lighted afterward in Bob Hart Square.

More performances and singing are planned after the tree is lighted.

Other parts of the county plan holiday events this week, including:

▪ Atwater: The Christmas parade, hosted by the Atwater Chamber of Commerce, starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, according to the chamber’s website.

The parade route is longer than in previous years. It begins at Foster’s Freeze, 1401 N. Winton Way, and continues to the Bloss Mansion, 1020 Cedar Ave., where Santa will be waiting. For more information, call the chamber at (209) 358-4251.

▪ Livingston: The city plans a first-time display called “A Lighted Christmas Tree Forest” on the former Court Theater property in downtown Livingston, where an unveiling is planned for 6 p.m. Friday. The display will be open daily from 5 to 9p.m. through Christmas Eve.

Planned at 6:30 p.m. that day at Main and D streets are Christmas carols, with the parade set for 7:30 p.m. as it heads from Memorial Park to D Street. For more information, call the city’s recreation department at (209) 394-8830.

▪ Los Banos: The Los Banos Chamber of Commerce parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday, starting at Fourth and H streets and ending in the Henry Miller Plaza.

Once there, as is tradition, organizers will light the tree and hold a Christmas caroling session. For more information, call organizers at (209) 826-8751 or (209) 826-3831, ext. 6551.

This story was originally published December 1, 2014 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Holiday events start this week in Merced County."