SHERBURNE – Sherburne will kick off its holiday season at 1 p.m. Saturday with the 21st Annual Holiday Parade. Sponsored by the Sherburne Rotary Club, the parade has evolved over the years with the support of community members and the Sherburne-Earlville school. Held during the daylight hours to better accommodate the attendance of children from all ages groups, the parade conducts itself in a family-friendly manner so everyone can have the best time possible.

Twelve groups have signed up so far to gather in Skip’s parking lot, courtesy of Jim Webb, and take part in the annual parade. “Participation is open to anyone,” said parade mastermind and Rotary Club member Valorie Gunther. Although the sign up deadline for the parade was Nov.17, there is always a group which shows up on parade day asking to take part, said Gunther. “We don’t turn anyone away. I am flexible, I mean you gotta be,” she said.

Years ago the name of the parade was changed, substituting the word Christmas for holiday, to capture better the inclusive spirit of the season. “Groups like the Girl Scouts aren’t really supposed to take part in religious-specific parades,” said Gunther. “But now anyone really can join and if someone wants to do something like a Hanukkah float, they can.”