If you do it right, Saturday could be your one-hit wonder of the holiday season.

A handful of family-friendly downtown events all lead up to the crown jewel of the day – the 31st annual Festival of Lights Parade.

Getting downtown early not only ensures a parking spot but also the chance to enjoy a celebration at the Pioneers Museum. The Festival of Lights Family Fun Day includes stations with activities, face painting, ornament making, cookies and hot cocoa. Later in the afternoon TubaChristmas blasts holiday favorites from the Acacia Park bandshell and folks who need to burn off some treats and help raise money can join the Empty Stocking Shuffle 5K Glow Run. It’s all capped off by the popular parade that traditionally falls on the first Saturday of December.

About 60,000 people make the journey downtown for the parade, making it the biggest single day event in Colorado Springs, says Terry P. Collinson, the parade’s executive director.

More than 75 entries will include 50 floats and at least 3,000 participants.

“Everybody likes the bands,” says Collinson. “The seven high school bands, even ones from Denver and Littleton. And of course Santa at the end of the parade.”

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will act as the official grand marshal this year. The school celebrates its 50th anniversary with marchers including current and future students, faculty, staff and administration, including chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak.

DETAILS

5:50 p.m. Saturday, parade route travels along Tejon Street, beginning at St. Vrain Street and ending at Vermijo Avenue, free; 649-9111, colorado springsfestivaloflights.org.

Parade parking: Parking lots and garages are within walking distance of the parade – City Administration Building garage, 130 S. Nevada St.; Bijou Street/Cascade Avenue garage, 215 N. Cascade Ave.; Kiowa Street garage, 127 E. Kiowa St.; Plaza of the Rockies garage, 111 S. Tejon St.; Antlers Hotel, 4 S. Cascade Ave.

MORE ACTIVITIES

– Festival of Lights Family Fun Day, with music and activities including face painting, balloon making, holiday ornament making, magic show, cookies and hot cocoa, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., free; 385-5990, cspm.org.

– TubaChristmas, 4 p.m. Saturday, Acacia Park bandshell, 115 E. Platte Ave., free; tubachristmas.com.

– Empty Stocking Shuffle 5K Glow Run, entry comes with lighted gloves, proceeds benefit Empty Stocking Fund, Saturday, 4 p.m. registration, 5 p.m. run, $25-$35; post-run celebration at The Mansion, 20 N. Tejon St.; csgrand prix.com.

– Peak Holiday Emporium Gift Shoppe and Marketplace, with open house by Pikemasters Model Railroad Club, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, City Auditorium, 221 E. Kiowa St., free, proceeds benefit Life Without Lupus Foundation; 380-8330.

– Colorado College Arts and Crafts Sale, 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Worner Campus Center, Colorado College, 902 N. Cascade Ave., free; 389-6607, colorado college.edu.

– Unveiling of 3-D laser light display on the front of the Pioneers Museum, following the Festival of Lights Parade, 215 S. Tejon St., free; 385-5990, cspm.org.