ARLINGTON – The annual Santa Parade kicks off the fun at noon Saturday, Dec. 6.

The Recreation Department is seeking participants for the parade, which includes floats, sports teams, drill teams, businesses, youth organizations, canine clubs, a holiday train, fire trucks and more, followed by Santa on a draft horse-drawn wagon.

It is free to be in this holiday-themed parade, but donations will be accepted for the Arlington Food Bank.

Pre-register at www.arlingtonwa.gov/recreation or register at 11:30 a.m. at Division Street on Olympic Avenue.

A cash prize will be awarded for best entry, sponsored by Lifeway Church.

Following the parade, there will be a Tree Lighting Ceremony at Legion Park, 114 N. Olympic Ave. Mayor Barbara Tolbert and Santa will also join in with caroling. Pastor Chad Blood will present the Festive Sweater Contest. Santa will be available for visits in the Gazebo until 3 p.m. Lifeway volunteers will have free hot chocolate, children’s crafts and music. Scouts will be hosting a fire pit.

Sugar and Spice, Mark Winterhalter’s draft horses, will be giving wagon rides from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and also on the following Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 20. The rides are free, sponsored by the Downtown Arlington Business Association, and pick up is at Legion Park on Dec. 6 and City Hall, 238 Olympic Ave., on Dec. 13 20.

Santa also will be in town Dec. 13 and 20 at New Beginnings; musical entertainment featuring “Sessions of Grace” continue downtown.

Other holiday events:

• Arlington Farmers’ Market will be hosting a Handmade Holiday gift sale at Pioneer Hall on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Cascade Valley Hospital is presenting the Festival of Trees Dec. 6, with an open house for the public from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and a gala and auction at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for the gala at www.cascadevalley.org/fot2014/. The hospital is also hosting Santa on Friday, Dec. 5 from 5-7 p.m.

• The Oso United Christmas Run is Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., sponsored by the Arlington Runners Club. The run is on the Airport Trail near the Stillaguamish Club. Go to www.arlingtonrunnersclub.org/.

• Arlington High School Flight jazz choir is presenting “It’s a Wonderful Arlington” Christmas. The show is at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center Dec. 5-6 and 12-13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $9 adults and $6 seniors and students.

• The North Cascades Concert Band concert is Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at the Byrnes center.

• Calvary Arlington is hosting Taproot Theater Christmas program also at the Byrnes center on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. For details go to www.byrnesperformingarts.org/events/.

For details about any of these events, go to www.arlingtonwa.gov/recreation or call 360-403-3448.