[12/2/04]Vicksburg’s first lighted Christmas parade will roll Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. along Washington Street between Belmont and Jackson.

About 68 participants are signed up, including local high school bands, dancers and area churches, businesses and volunteer organizations.

The parade will be followed by the lighting of the city’s 30-foot tree at River Stage Plaza and the city-sponsored moonlight movies at about 6:30 p.m. at Crawford Square. All are free to the public.

The National Weather Service in Jackson is predicting a 40 percent chance of rain and 55-degree temperature around the start of the parade. The low temperature that night is expected to be near 41.

On Sunday, Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express will be at the railroad yard on Levee Street at 5 p.m. Tours of the lighted train are free to the public.

Temperatures are expected to be around 46 degrees at dusk and drop. There is a 50 percent chance of rain beginning that afternoon.