Parade of Lights brings Christmas to Comstock

All the fireworks at this year's Virginia City Parade of Lights will be on the ground.

A plan to wrap up the Comstock's annual Christmas Parade with a fireworks show was canceled due to weather, according to event coordinator Karen Woodmansee.

That doesn't mean that the annual parade will lose its any of its usual shine.

Cars, trucks, floats and marchers decorated with light will move down C Street starting at Fourth Ward School.

Grand marshals for the parade will be Virginia City's oldest veteran, 95-year-old Bill Shelley, and Mark Twain as portrayed by McAvoy Layne.

Woodmansee said entrants need only show up at the Fourth Ward School at 4:30 p.m., join the lineup and be part of the parade.

The bells of St. Mary on the Mountain will play Christmas carols and Santa Clause will be at Silver Sadie's Old Time Photo Shop through the weekend.

Just attending the parade could result in a prize, according to Woodmansee.

A drawing for a $1,000 prize will be given away and visitors could win a $30 gift in the Santa's Savings Pouch Game.

Woodmansee said the pouches, filled with coupons, are available at the Chamber of Commerce. Shoppers who match the number on the pouch with a tag inside a Virginia City store and win a prize worth $30 or more.

"Participating stores will have the number in the store somewhere," she said. "And the coupons are worth 10 percent off merchandise."

The parade kicks off the Christmas on the Comstock, which covers every weekend leading up to Dec. 25.