Christmas Parade will shut down Sonora streets on Friday
Some streets in downtown Sonora will be temporarily closed Friday, others will be designated no-parking areas, and there will be competition for scarce parking with so many people expected to come see the 39th annual Historic Downtown Sonora Christmas Parade.
The free, public event is expected to begin at 6 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. Friday.
Sonora police say they expect thousands of visitors will be in the downtown area before, during, and after the parade, and have offered the following tips for people planning to attend or be around the area at that time:
• Anyone planning to attend the parade is urged to arrive downtown before 5 p.m. to allow time to park and find a spot to watch and enjoy the parade.
• The following streets will be closed at 3:30 p.m. and will remain closed for the duration of the parade: East Lytton at Washington Street; East William at Washington Street; Gold at Washington Street; Linoberg between Washington Street and Green Street;
West Jackson at Green Street; East Jackson between Washington Street and Stewart Street; Yaney Street at Washington Street; and Snell Street between Bonanza Street and School Street.
• Also at 3:30 p.m., the following streets will be designated as temporary no-parking zones between Green and Stewart streets: Elkin Street, Dodge Street, Jackson Street, Yaney Street, Bradford Street, Theall Street, Linoberg Street, Church Street, June Street, Gold Street, Williams Street, and Lytton Street.
• At 4 p.m., the following streets will also be designated as temporary no-parking zones until the conclusion of the parade: Washington Street from Elkin Street to Toby Street, and Stockton Road between Washington Street and 70 Stockton Road.
• Also at 4 p.m., School Street between Washington and Snell streets will be closed and will remain closed until the end of the parade.
• Then at 5:30 p.m., the following street will be closed for the duration of the parade: South Washington Street at Highway 108; North Washington and South Washington Street; Stockton Road; and Restano Way.
The Sonora Police Department says that once street closures occur, no vehicles will be allowed into the parade route area — even if you are a participant in the parade.
Tuolumne County Transit will operate on a special schedule to accommodate parade spectators. For information on their Christmas Parade schedule and their special pick-up locations, visit the Tuolumne County Transit website at https://bit.ly/3ekxe1m or call (209) 532-0404.
Contact Guy Mccarthy at gmccarthy@ uniondemocrat.net or (209) 770-0405. Follow him on Twitter at @Guymccarthy.