2012 Christmas parades on Thursday: Wagoner, McAlester, Pryor

Three Tulsa area communities are breaking from the usual weekend Christmas parade schedule to host their own parades on Thursday.

“We had a big crowd last year and we always do,” Wagoner Chamber of Commerce Director Meredith Zehr told 2NEWS speaking of Wagoner Christmas parade saying she expects much the same this year.

The parade of lights, this year themed “Holiday Traditions” and expected to draw a crowd of 10,000, features an entourage of at least 75 floats as well as eleven marching bands – including those of Wagoner's own high and junior high schools.

The parade, set to begin 7 p.m. with a route set to go west on Cherokee, turn south on Main and turn east on to Church Street, will feature a Santa's sleigh as well as the city's own merry-go-round float.

Highlighting McAlester's own parade of lights set to begin its tour through the downtown at 7 p.m. Thursday will be Oklahoma State University's Pistol Pete riding a float. He will be available for pictures following the parade at the farmer's market.

According to the McAlester Chamber of Commerce, the parade to begin at the corner of Carl Albert Parkway and Main Street will run five blocks, past E. 6th Street onto 5th Street, the Choctaw and back to Main Street. It will feature 57 floats decorated to this year's theme of “Victorian Christmas.”

Santa ,who will also make a showing during the parade will be available for pictures before the event at the MPower Economic Development Corporation's offices at 115 E. Choctaw Avenue.

The Pryor Parade of Lights this year will feature OSU's rival, according to the Pryor Chamber of Commerce.

One of the 80 floats to be displayed along with the parade's lighted floats, marching bands, antique cars and horses will be the University of Oklahoma's own Boomer and Sooner drawing the Sooner Schooner behind.

A chamber spokesperson told 2NEWS the OU entourage including a few select retired OU football players will be present at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Graham and Main downtown where a new OU trailer will be set up for tours.

The parade itself is set to begin at 7 p.m. at the corner of Hogan Street and Graham to finish on NE 1st Street in downtown Pryor.

A list of more Tulsa-area parades can be found here. If you're reading this story on your phone click this link http://bit.ly/moreparades

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