Jamestown’s Annual Christmas Parade is set to make its way through the city once again this Saturday night. P-J file photo

The city of Jamestown is preparing to feel the holiday spirit, beginning this weekend with the annual Christmas parade.

Patrick Smeraldo with Collaborative Children’s Solutions said this is the fourth year of his organization being in charge of the event, and that this year it will follow the daytime event of the Holiday Festival during the day. The Second Annual Holiday Festival will include a multitude of activities including carriage rides, crafts, kids activities put on by Wegmans, Christmas carols and a band on the steps of City Hall. At 5:30 p.m. the tree will be lit and the parade begins at 6 p.m. Smeraldo said around 150 floats will be involved and that the parade will go down Third Street by Farm Fresh Foods, with fireworks to follow.

“From the events that Collaborative Children’s Solutions does, this is the biggest of the year,” Smeraldo said. “We do Gus Macker and Turning the River Green, but those both cater to certain groups. Everybody gets into the holidays and the Holiday Parade.”

The grand marshal of the parade will once again be third grader Johnny Lamancuso, who returns after his treatments last year.

“It’s a great time to see the city come together with no bickering and celebrate the holidays,” Smeraldo said. “Santa will come at the end, and it’s one of the biggest and greatest events that we do all year. It’s a lot of work but it’s awesome to see everyone enjoy it.”

The parade is also something that Smeraldo said he takes as a big responsibility to the city and also what Collaborative Children’s Solutions does. He praised all of the departments involved in running the city, saying that they are only one text away, and have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to help prepare for the parade.

Smeraldo said during the parade it is “pretty cool” to walk down Third Street and see people lining the street, adding that over 85 organizations are involved this year, both big and small.

“The holidays are great, no matter how you celebrate,” Smeraldo said. “Come to the parade, but be safe. It looks like it should be decent weather. Start your holidays the right way with a safe, family, fun environment.”