The City of Harrisburg will host the annual Cargill Holiday Parade sponsored by Visit Hershey & Harrisburg on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. in downtown Harrisburg.

The parade will include giant parade balloons; marching bands; dance, step and drill team performances; decorated floats; characters; and Santa Claus. This year's theme is "Rockin' Around the Burg," and a panel of local celebrity judges will award a gift card to the entry that best exemplifies this theme. The parade route spans 1.5 miles along Front and Second streets from Market Street to North Street, allowing ample space for viewing.

Following the parade, attendees may join Santa for free hot chocolate and cookies in Strawberry Square, while supplies last, followed by the awards ceremony, where the top high school marching bands; dance, step or drill teams; and Best in Theme entry will be announced.

Road closures will begin at 7 a.m. and end at approximately 2 p.m. The Market Street Bridge will be closed starting at 7 a.m. Additionally, Front and Second streets will be closed from Market to Forster Streets starting at 7 a.m.

The Market Square Garage will offer a special event rate from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. courtesy of Park Harrisburg. In addition, parade attendees can utilize the ParkMobile App to get up to four hours of free street parking in the downtown area using the code "LUVHBG."

Parade attendees are encouraged to share their photos using #HolidayParadeHBG. For more information, email specialevents@harrisburgpa.gov or visit https://harrisburgpa.gov/parade.

Visitors are also encouraged to eat lunch at one of the city's restaurants and shop at local boutiques. They may also explore the city through the self-guided trails and experiences offered through Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, including the Sweet Treat Trail, Murals & More - A Walk of Art, the Brew Barons Beer Trail, the Adventure Trail, and the Cultural Guides. For a full list of city businesses to explore, visit http://www.explorehbg.com. More information on the trails is available at http://www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/trails.