The City of Idaho Falls is coming together with the Idaho Falls Rotary Club to host the 3rd Annual UTV Light Parade and Stones Kia Firework Show in December.
The parade features hundreds of UTVs decorated with lights, blow-ups and other decorations. The UTVs will follow a route that goes along the Idaho Falls Riverwalk, starting at Freeman Park and passing by Pancheri Bridge. There are also two 10-minute-long firework shows at the beginning and end of the event.
Kimberly Felker, the public information officer for the city of Idaho Falls, says there’s a wide range of decorations people use in the parade.
“Last year I saw one that had a cow with a Santa hat on it,” Felker said. “We have a range of any kind of blow-up you can imagine. People get so creative with it. I’ve seen people do custom pieces that they created themselves, specifically for the event. The sky really is the limit, and people just let their imagination loose.”
Felker says people have loved the event in years past, and many have come to Idaho Falls to make a weekend trip out of it by attending the parade then going to dinner and staying at one of the many local hotels.
Felker credits the Idaho Falls community for making the parade possible each year.
“Idaho Falls has such an amazing community where people want to come out to celebrate and have a good time,” Felker said. “This is an opportunity to create an event where people can come and enjoy the holiday season together.”
Four hundred residents are participating in the parade with a registration fee of $10 each. Idaho Falls is partnering with the Community Food Basket - Idaho Falls to donate all funds raised from the parade to the food bank.
“The food bank is able to take the funds and multiply it by four times,” Felker said. “Once we have 400 registrants, we’ll have thousands of dollars we’re able to give to the food bank that they can share with families. Especially at this time of year, they are really in need of those extra donations, and this is a great way to help.”
Felker highlights the parade as a community favorite.
“People love it,” Felker said. “Each year we get more and more people who want to be involved. People just love this event. It’s a really great way to just come and enjoy togetherness.”
The parade and firework show will be on Friday, Dec. 19 starting at 7p.m. and it will run until around 9 p.m. Anyone can donate by scanning one of the many QR codes that will be on display during the parade. For more information on how to donate and the parade in general, click here.