RUMFORD — Christmas in the Valley holiday festivities will kick off with a holiday parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The parade is sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Rumford Fire Department and features the 10 towns in the River Valley.

The parade will start off at Mountain Valley High School with registration to be open from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. The parade will step off at 6:30. Judging of the floats will happen at 5:30.

“Christmas Wonderland” is the theme. The parade will wind its way from the school down through Waldo Street, up Rumford Avenue and around the rotary and onto Congress Street where Santa will wave his hands at the head of Congress Street and the Christmas tree will magically light up, officially starting holiday shopping on Shopper’s Island.

Santa will greet the children at the fire station after the parade.

Anyone interested in having a float in the parade should fill out a parade registration form available at the Chamber’s website, www.rivervalleychamberofcommerce.com, or through email, [email protected], or pick one up at Erik Designs on Rte. 108.

There will be two categories for the floats; nonprofit/civic and business/commercial. There will be banners for the winners of the two categories placed in front of their float for the parade.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Christmas in the Valley Craft Fair, sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mountain Valley High School.

Fifty-six crafters and seven home-based businesses will feature their crafts and wares. A $1 donation at the door will help the Interact Group with upcoming activities.

The Cookie Walk will feature more than 70 dozen cookies. The Kid’s Corner, under the supervision of the Interact Group, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be a Longaberger basket raffle filled with gift certificates/cards from local merchants. Tickets are $1 for one or six for $5. The tickets will be available at the Christmas in the Valley apparel table located near the gym door. Proceeds will go to the scholarship funds for Mountain Valley and Dirigo high schools. Other raffles will include cookies and a decorated snowshoe of boughs and flowers.