[dropcap]Christmas[/dropcap] in T-Town is, once again, the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas lights, festive parades, spectacular events and family traditions are but a few ways to celebrate the season in Oklahoma. While the state is home to dazzling Christmas light displays, the Tulsa Christmas Parade has become a main attraction for Tulsans and visitors from neighboring communities. Each year, the Tulsa Christmas Parade gets bigger, and the 2015 organizers hope to draw more than 50,000 people to the holiday spectacular. While everyone enjoys viewing the drill teams dance to the hard-hitting beats of the marching band, the gigantic helium balloons have become a crowd favorite. The Christmas parade kicks off in downtown Tulsa on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. with a route beginning on Seventh Street and Boston Avenue and ending on Third Street and Boulder Avenue. Following enjoyment of the Christmas parade, take in the sights of downtown Tulsa as it is transformed into a winter wonderland during the annual Winterfest. In 2014, more than 150,000 visitors enjoyed Winterfest, solidifying its place as a Tulsa holiday tradition. The festival runs through Jan. 17 and features downtown carriage rides, a fireworks display and the main attraction, a 9,000-square foot ice skating rink. The ice rink is open daily to the public, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For more information, please visit www.smgspecialevents.wix.com.
