By Special to the Town Crier

The 24th annual Festival of Lights Parade is scheduled at 7 p.m., Nov. 25, in downtown Los Altos.

A crowd is expected, so organizers advise arriving early to claim your spot along Main or State Street. A rain date is usually set for the Sunday following, in this case, Dec. 2.

There is something for everyone to enjoy at the parade, which features costumed characters, enchanted floats and music. Many school and community bands and after-school clubs participate in the parade.

Organizers said hosting the Festival of Lights Parade is a significant undertaking and requires many volunteers. The 24-year-old Festival of Lights Parade Association is a non-profit organization run by members of the community. Each year the association organizes two fund-raising events, a downtown antique faire and the Rock Back the Clock dance at Rancho Shopping Center, to raise money for the parade.

The Festival of Lights Association welcomes new volunteers. The time commitment varies to suit each volunteer and can range from four hours to 12 half-days per year. While most tasks are well defined and easy to learn, several require special talents. These include repairing float lights and mechanisms, repairing lights on the costumes, sewing and fitting the costumes and face painting.

For more information regarding volunteering with the Festival of Lights Parade Association, call Mike Balster at 941-5723.