The Larned Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Ambassadors invite you and your family to join them for the 90th annual Christmas Day Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. This year’s theme is "Christmas with a Splash." Parade lineup will begin at 10 a.m.; judging of the floats will begin at 10:30 a.m. with four cash prize awards to be given, sponsored by our local banks, First State Bank, Farmers Bank & Trust, American State Bank and Bank of the West. Jim Forrest and Ruth Kazmaier have been selected as this year’s Grand Marshals of the parade.

Along with the parade there are many other activities and events going on around Larned. To start things off the Pawnee Valley Community Health Organization Auxiliary will have its annual Craft Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 418 Broadway, From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Kiddie Day will begin by doing some Christmas shopping for their parents; the parade will be at 11. The Kiddie Day movie "The Polar Express" will be showing at 1 p.m. at the State Theater, sponsored by the State Theater, the John Schnack Trust and Cox Communication.

Following the movie there will be Larned’s First Christmas reenactment at the Little Red House on the corner of 2nd and State streets; across the street Santa will be giving mule-drawn buggy rides at Sibley’s Camp, sponsored by the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association. A photographer will be present to take your picture with Santa, sponsored by the Larned Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and photos will be available immediately.

To wrap up the day, at 6 p.m. everyone will gather at the Water Tower at the corner of 4th and Corse for Christmas caroling provided by the Larned Music Club and enjoy refreshments served by the Kiwanis Club while we witness the mayor of Larned "flipping the switch" turning on the Water Tower Christmas lights and the downtown Christmas Decorations.

On Dec. 5 there will be a Christmas concert performance by The Diamonds starting at 7 p.m. at Larned Community Center. Tickets are available at First State Bank, American State Bank and Farmers Bank & Trust, $10 in advance for adults, $15 at the door; $5 in advance for 18 and under, and the same at the door. Sponsored by Prairie Arts Unlimited.

For more information about these events and to enter your award-winning float in the Christmas Parade please contact the Larned Chamber of Commerce at 620-285-6916 or Chamber Ambassador President Kelsi Williamson at 620-804-2167 or kelsi_williamson@hotmail.com.J