Santa Claus is going to be flying above Ignacio – literally – during the “Light Up the Town” parade Friday.

The parade acts as a “COVID-proof” replacement for the town’s decades-old “Taste of Christmas” event, said Allison Leath, a parade organizer. Ignacio is vying to be the go-to town in La Plata County for holiday lights this year.

Event organizers thought flying in Santa on a helicopter might do the trick.

“I was like, ‘Oh, that could be done? Let’s just do that,’” said Leath, site manager for the ELHI Community Center.

Being a part of the parade is simple: Just show up and park, she said. Attendees will be able to watch the parade from their vehicles while listening to music provided by KSUT Tribal Radio on 91.3 FM.

Creating a vehicle-oriented event will enable easy social distancing, and no candy will be handed out to minimize potential spread of the coronavirus, Leath said.

“We kind of came up with a COVID-proof parade plan,” she said. “You can listen to Christmas music, watch the show, go home and not have to worry about having contact with people if you’re nervous about it.”

The parade starts at 5:30 p.m., leaving Ignacio High School before driving down Goddard Avenue, Pine Street and Browning Avenue before returning to the school.

Santa will be waving from an Alpine Heli Tours helicopter while flying above attendees, then he’ll land at the high school football field and join the parade on a fire truck.

In total, Leath expected the event to last about 30 minutes, depending on the number of floats. Ten floats had signed up as of Tuesday, she said.

Two $100 prizes will be awarded for the best float decorations and the best house/business decorations.

Ignacio’s neighboring town, Bayfield, is putting together its own light celebration for mid-December, said Katie Sickles, town manager.

Local organizations on the Taste of Christmas Committee partnered to put on the event.

“To not have it (Taste of Christmas) this year would have been a huge disappointment especially for kids and families who look forward to it,” said Marcia Vining, Ignacio library director. “The goal was to do something special for the kids/families where they could still get out, see the lights and Santa, and know the community cares about them.”

ELHI is also offering pictures with Santa until Dec. 17 as a fundraiser to help cover parade costs. Additional donations would improve the ELHI playground, Leath said.

Leath hoped the parade shows visitors that Ignacio is a special place.

“Through something like this, people can see how magical (Ignacio) really is and want to be a part of it,” she said. “We want people to want to come to Ignacio and appreciate it for what it is.”

For local residents, it’s a way to celebrate their community during a politically and socially divisive year.

“We just need something good right now,” Leath said. “We’re all suffering right now in our own ways, and maybe this can be the light at the end of the tunnel. ... We’re still people underneath this pandemic.”

smullane@durangoherald.com

If you go

What:

Ignacio’s Light Up the Town parade.

Location:

The parade starts and ends at Ignacio High School. It will go down Goddard Avenue and Browning Avenue.

Time:

5:30 p.m. Friday. It is expected to end around 6 p.m.

Cost:

Free.

Event details:

Families can stay in their vehicles and listen to event programming on 91.3 FM, KSUT Tribal Radio.