Oswego's downtown Christmas Walk parade planned for a day later due to pandemic

The annual downtown Oswego Christmas Walk parade may be held one day later this year.

The village board will consider a resolution during their next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, to temporarily close Route 34 through the village's downtown for the parade on Saturday evening, Dec. 5.

In prior years, the parade, which features Oswego Fire Protection District fire trucks, has been held on Friday evenings along with the bulk of Christmas Walk events.

Village officials previously announced that bulk of this year's Christmas Walk events will be held in the downtown Friday evening, Dec. 4, but the parade is now planned for Dec. 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In order to promote social distancing and extend the holiday cheer through the weekend, the (Christmas Walk) Silent Light Parade will take place on Saturday evening rather than during the Friday evening Christmas Walk festivities," a memo from Assistant Village Administrator Christina Burns to the board reads. "As part of this event, the parade will require temporary closure of U.S. Highway 34 at Jefferson Street and Main Street."

This year's parade route will begin with a staging site at the former Traughber Junior High School on Franklin Street, turning left down Garfield Street, left onto Jefferson Street, left onto Main Street, and left onto Tyler Street.

The theme for this year's Christmas Walk, the village announced, is "A Stroll along Main Street."

"The Oswego Christmas Walk will have plenty of cheer but will look different this year! We're working to bring you a safe but joyous event," a post reads on the village's Facebook page.

Visitors to the annual event can expect many of the same highlights, "a festival of sights, sounds and smells," but with COVID-19 precautions including one-way foot traffic through downtown Oswego.

Additional precautions include the removal of high-touch point activities including bounce houses and a train that travels the length of Main Street. Highlights like reindeer, ice carvings, and main stage performances will be spread out further across Main Street, to encourage social distancing and "to keep patrons at a safe distance."

"Wear your mask and your jingle bells and take part in an Oswego tradition," the website read.

Oswego-based small businesses, nonprofit organizations, food vendors and food trucks are encouraged to apply for a space through the Christmas Walk website.