Glenn Santos of Hawaiian Telcom has been volunteering with the light setup on the lawn of the Historic County Building for “a long time.”
He was joined by Bryan Carvalho Monday in starting the setup for this year’s Festival of Lights that opens Friday, Dec. 6, featuring the Kauai Chorale, the work being slowed by the soggy ground and wet weather.
The Festival of Lights forms the backdrop for the Kauai Rotary Club’s annual Lights on Rice holiday parade that rolls on Rice Street starting at 6:30 p.m. Organizers say the work on Rice Street should be wrapped up by then.
The Lights on Rice holiday parade is traditionally held on the first Friday evening of December, coinciding with the Kauai Museum Christmas Craft Fair and the opening ceremonies for the Festival of Lights that is available for viewing each weekend through Christmas at the Historic County Building.
A free shuttle service will be available from First Hawaiian Bank at Kukui Grove Center to the First Hawaiian Bank Rice Street branch to accommodate parking for the anticipated sea of spectators that comes into town to view more than 60 units and 3,000 participants.
Traffic advisories, including several road closures, will take effect from 6 p.m.
There has been confusion over the presence of holiday parades recently, said Esther Estes, the lead for the Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade.
The annual Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21, starting at 6:15 p.m., and features a unique offering of lighted units traveling from Waimea Athletic Field along Kaumuali‘i Highway and ending along the road fronting the Big Save Market with festivities overflowing into Hofgaard Park.
Kaumuali‘i Highway will be closed to traffic from the Waimea Bridge to the Waimea Athletic Field from 5:30 until 8 p.m. to accommodate the parade that passes decorated storefronts and homes.
Parade applications are being welcomed by contacting Estes, secretary and parade chair for the West Kauai Business and Professional Association at 652-0927, or emailing her at estesaloha@hawaii.rr.com.
The Kukui Grove Center will host its 26th annual Kauai Christmas Parade Saturday, Nov. 30, from 5 p.m., to start the first of three parades scheduled for the holiday season.
Applications and information to participate in the community celebration to ring in the holidays at the height of the Black Friday weekend are available by email info@kukuigrovecenter.com.
A pre-parade show will take place from 4:30 p.m., when roads around the shopping center will be closed.
Following the parade, an awards show and Santa’s arrival will take place at the center stage area before the Holiday Lights Spectacular premieres at 7 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
