MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake will celebrate agriculture and the holidays downtown Dec. 6 with music, food and the traditional Ag Parade. 

The parade has proven to be so popular that it’s going to have to change routes this year, according to Mallory Miller, executive director of the Downtown Moses Lake Association, which sponsors the event every year. The parade had about 60 entries last year, twice as many as in 2022. 

“The line kept getting backed up because there were too many parade entries and not enough route,” Miller said. “So there were a lot of pausing moments waiting for people to move forward in front of them.” 

The old route was slightly over half a mile and both started and ended in the Surf ‘n Slide parking lot at McCosh Park. This year’s route is closer to 1 ⅓ miles and includes lots of space along A and Dogwood streets for participants to set up and tear down. Third and Fourth avenues will be closed off between Dogwood and Division streets, as well as the staging and disassembly areas. 

“Those street closures will be happening early in the day, probably around two o'clock, weather dependent, but there's going to be signs directing people,” Miller said. 

The closed streets will be used for the street party that comes with the parade. The party starts at 5 p.m. at Sinkiuse Square, said Dale Roth, who’s emceeing the event, and the live entertainment will begin at 5:30. The lineup will include musicians Jon White, James Gonzalez with Mark Stevens and AJ Moreno and a dance performance from Dance FX, Roth said. 

In between Roth will be DJing holiday music and there will be lots of goodies on hand. The Corn Dog Company of Eastern Washington and Porky’s Hot Dogs will be set up, and Risen Indeed Cakes will debut its food bus. JR Simplot will also be there with hot, unlimited free french fries.  

James Shank of Edward Jones and Steve Crapson Insurance Agency have teamed up again to offer free s’mores to the crowd. Last year Shank and Crapson ran out of graham crackers early and had to pass out marshmallows and chocolate by themselves, Miller said, but they’re prepared this year for the larger crowd. 

Last year’s event attracted more than 2,000 people, Miller said, especially for the parade. 

“People just came out of the floodgates from nowhere,” she said. 

Miller said that people or organizations that want to march or drive in the parade should register ahead of time if possible. While organizers try to accommodate participants who show up at the last minute, it’s a lot more efficient if registrations are in by Dec. 4, she added. 

Parade participants can register with DMLA Events Coordinator Jesseanne Polmateer at 509-986-7478 or [email protected].  

“We encourage you to come down early and grab your spot,” Roth said. “We'll have the parade beginning at seven o'clock, and we'll have a great, great hour and a half of entertainment leading up to the parade.” 

    Alicia Lundquist of Amy’s Artistic Creations paints faces last year’s the Ag Appreciation Parade and Street Party Friday. Amy’s Artistic Creations will return to the event this year, which is Dec. 6.
  

    Dorian Shank, right, and Susan Barrett set out s’mores fixings for the crowd at the Moses Lake Ag Parade and Street Party last year.
  

    The Moses Lake Future Farmers of America float glides down Third Avenue as part of the Moses Lake Ag Appreciation Parade on Friday.