FORKS — For Janet Hughes, the sparkling floats in the ninth annual Forks Twinkle Light Parade are the biggest event of the year.
The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at C Street and proceeds down Forks Avenue — also known as U.S. Highway 101 — to Wood Avenue.
“I grew up with a parade for Christmas, so when I came here, I went to the police chief and asked him if we could do it. And he said, ‘Well, you go do it,'” she said.
“So I did. That is how we started all this.”
The parade is sponsored by Hughes’ store, J.T.’s Sweet Stuffs, 80 N. Forks Ave.
“Per capita, we are bigger than the Macy’s [Thanksgiving Day] Parade,” Hughes said.
All of the floats in the parade are decked out in Christmas lights.
So far, about 16 floats have signed up, but Hughes said she frequently has last-minute registrations.
“This isn’t something that has prizes or places in the parade,” she said.
“We just do this for a little extra holiday cheer.”
‘Gift to community’
“Christmas is about Christmas presents, and this is our gift to the community,” Hughes said.
And Hughes cautions visitors to be there early or at least on time.
“We start right on time — so you don’t want to miss anything,” she said.
After the parade, stores will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for “Moonlight Madness,” with shopping bargains in every store.
“This year — knock on wood — it is supposed to be nice outside, so that will be wonderful,” Hughes said.
But regardless of the weather, the parade will proceed.
The event has never been canceled despite years when it has been raining and sleeting, she said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.