Families can enjoy festivities at Merry Cary event Sunday

The Merry Cary Holiday Parade and Festival will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, in downtown Cary. Offering a host festive activities for area families, the event is coordinated by the Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and the village of Cary.

The Merry Cary Parade will kick off at 1 p.m. down West Main Street. Lineup begins at noon down Wulff Street. The parade is one of the largest in McHenry County. Hundreds of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, community groups and businesses in festive attire and decorated vehicles will participate. The Pearl Harbor Memorial AMVETS Color Guard will lead the parade followed by the Cary Police Department, the McHenry County Sheriff and the Cary Fire Protection District and the Cary mayor and trustees. Santa will conclude the parade riding in a horse-drawn Santa sleigh.

Before and after the parade, there will be a number of holiday activities in the downtown area on West Main Street. All events are free to the public.

From noon to 3:30 p.m., there will be a petting zoo on Jandus Road and pony rides in Harris Bank parking lot.

From 2 to 3:30 p.m., enjoy indoor entertainment in the Harris Bank lobby including performances by Cary Junior High Band, the Prairie Hill fifth- and sixth-grade band and a demonstration by Focus Martial Arts. Also from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. will be visits with Santa at Cary Travel Express; bring your own camera for photos. There will be appearances by Santa's Elves, Victor and Wally from "Those Funny Little People" at Cary Travel Express and in the downtown area will be horse-drawn Santa sleigh rides and Cary-Grove Rotary Holiday Wagon rides.

During the event, visit the downtown area restaurants including Cary Coffee Station, Galati's Pizza & Pasta, Tapas Calpe at Orchard Prime Meats & Wine Shoppe, and The Tracks. For information, visit carygrovechamber.com or call (847) 639-2800.