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Posted: December 1, 2006
 You’ll have a Dickens of a time tonight in historic Downtown Plano as “old towne” is transformed into a wonderland of lights, music, entertainment, food and old fashioned fun! Friday, December 1, 6pm – 10pm, Haggard Park/Downtown Plano will come alive with holiday spirit for all.
Enjoy food, shopping, music, dancers, hand bells, carolers and a visit with Santa in Santa’s special holiday cottage. Mother Nature must have heard the news that this year’s Dickens event is featuring SNOW – yes, SNOW – because she decided to add to the excitement by providing a frosting of the white fluff early to set the mood.
The City’s holiday tree will be lit with lots of lighted shapes and figures scattered throughout Haggard Park. Plano’s historic shops along brick-lined Downtown 15th Street will be offering the unique one-of-a-kind gifts they are famous for, with 15th Street closed through Downtown to allow for strolling minstrels, food vendors and entertainment.
If you’ve never been to Dickens in Downtown don’t let the weather keep you away – the warmth of Downtown’s stores, restaurants, Interurban Railway Station (open for fascinating tours of our early electric railway), great entertainment and more – will more than ward off the chill!
DART light rail can drop you off in the heart of the action at the Downtown Plano Station, with plenty of parking available for those who prefer to drive. This great holiday season kick-off is just a mile north of Central (U.S. 75) on 15th Street (Norman Whitsett Parkway), in the heart of Downtown Plano.
Again this year a free shuttle from Dickens to the Heritage Farmstead Museum will transport you to “A Children’s Holiday Party: 1910.” Admission to the beautiful Farmstead and lantern light tour is $5 per person/ $18 per family of four or more, with a $2 discount off of single admission price or $3 off of family admission with a donation of a new unwrapped toy or new/gently used coat.
The holiday season kickoff continues on Saturday, December 2 with the Plano 34th Annual Children’s Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “A Story Book Christmas” and persons expecting bands, floats, fun and entertaining group entries stretching for miles will not be disappointed. Plano’s parade continues to be one of the region’s largest and never fails to please.
 This year’s parade begins at 9am beginning at the Plano Senior High School at Park Boulevard/Independence, and travels North on Independence to Parker Road, traveling West to Coit Road, ending at Christ United Methodist Church.
Parade viewers will get a glimpse this year of not only Plano’s Mayor and City Council, but also Plano’s Space Ambassador Anousheh Ansari who will join them on a special float. The Mayor and City Council invite the public to a meet and greet reception for Mrs. Ansari to be held following the parade from 12 noon to 1:30pm at Jasper High School, 6800 Archgate Drive, Plano. Everyone is invited with cookies and punch to be served.
A Plano resident and business owner, Mrs. Ansari is the first female private space explorer, spending ten days in space September 18 – 28, 2006, including eight days on the International Space Station.
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