Tejon Street will be transformed from a busy thoroughfare to a magical holiday wonderland on Saturday as the 41st annual Festival of Lights Parade brings brightly colored floats, marching bands and Christmas joy to downtown Colorado Springs.

“It’s a long-standing Colorado Springs tradition that brings families together,” said spokeswoman Abragail Arnold. “You get to see Christmas lights and incredible floats, you see Santa going by on his sleigh. It really does bring holiday joy.”

The parade, which starts at 5:50 p.m. at Boulder Street and progresses to Vermijo Avenue, is expected to draw tens of thousands of holiday revelers to the downtown area, Arnold said.

“In previous years, we’ve seen as many as 70,000 people downtown,” she said. “This year should be no different, especially if the weather cooperates.”

Each year, dozens of schools, nonprofits, civic groups and local businesses come together to make each parade more unforgettable than the last. This year’s spectacle will feature nearly 100 illuminated floats and more than a dozen local high school marching bands, officials said.

“We have several local businesses that really get into the spirit of the parade, and they go all out,” Arnold said.

“You’re going to see some really cool floats this year,” said Kevin Leonardo, the parade’s executive director. “Some businesses put a lot of resources into them. Others don’t have the resources for that, so their floats aren’t as extravagant, but there’s just as much love behind them, just as much time and effort.”

The grand marshal of this year’s parade will be local business owner Richard Skorman, a former member of City Council and 2024 recipient of the Mayor’s Spirit of Colorado Springs Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Richard does a lot in the community that embodies the holiday spirit, and he’s been a staple in the community for a long time,” Leonardo said.

The parade will be broadcast live on KKTV, with replays throughout the holidays for people who couldn’t make it in person, or folks who want to relive the festivities.

“We want to make sure everyone who comes downtown has a really good time,” Arnold said. “Enjoy the music, the floats and the holiday lights, and get into the holiday spirit.”

Families can start getting into the holiday spirit on Saturday morning as the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum hosts its annual Festival of Lights Family Fun Day. From 10 a.m.–2 p.m., the museum offers an array of family-friendly activities, including musical performances, face painting and crafts.

Youngsters will be able to make a friendship bracelet with the Girl Scouts of Colorado, write a letter to Santa with the U.S. Postal Service, create an ornament and more, officials said.

Starting at 6 p.m., hot chocolate and cookies will be served outside the museum entrance.

Parking will be free on Saturday at the downtown parking garages at 215 N. Cascade Ave., 130 S. Nevada Ave. and 127 E. Kiowa St.

“One of the best things about these activities is that they’re free,” Leonardo said. “The parade isn’t a ticketed event, and the Family Fun Day is free of charge, so anyone who can get downtown can come out and enjoy.”