On Thursday Dec. 1 in downtown Altoona there will be a Spirit of Christmas parade. The parade will start at 6 p.m. During the parade, they will have marching bands, Santa Claus on a float, a special tree lighting ceremony, a firework display, cheerleaders will be there performing their final dance and more.

“I’m nervous for the parade. It’s gonna be really awkward dancing in front of people and being on the news. But I am also excited to finish off my cheer year,” 4th grader Sophia Otto said. 

The route for the parade will start at Ninth street and Green avenue and end at sixteenth street and eleventh avenue.