With Fourth of July just days away, the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce is showing that it’s never too early to be thinking about the winter holidays.

The chamber announced in a press release that the Queen Creek Holiday Festival & Parade will take place on Saturday, December 3, from 2-7 p.m. in the heart of downtown Queen Creek.

Now in its 40th year, the annual event benefits the chamber and Kiwanis Club of Queen Creek. The highlight of the festival is the parade, which will feature more than 60 entries ranging from marching bands and dance troupes to floats and even Santa Claus. 

The 2022 Holiday Festival & Parade is presented by Banner Ironwood Medical Center. In addition, the chamber announced that Hunter Contracting Co., San Tan Ford, Commercial Metals Company and the Town of Queen Creek are sponsoring the event.

The parade will start at 3:30 p.m. and head north on Ellsworth Road, ending just south of the Hampton Inn. More than 15,000 guests are expected to attend the festival that includes not just the parade, but also carnival rides, arts and crafts, live music, food, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and photos with Santa, according to the release.

Members of the public can get involved with the festival by becoming a vendor or sponsor. Businesses and organizations wishing to promote and/or sell their goods or services can apply to reserve a commercial vendor booth space. Booth spaces are 10-feet-by10-feet.

The release states that past commercial vendors have sold jewelry, candles, arts and crafts, purses, T-shirts, hats and decor. Applications for vendors are now being accepted. Early bird specials are $90 and end on Oct. 1. 

Local dance groups, school groups, marching bands and commercial businesses can submit an application to be part of the festivities. The cost for a kids’ group/school group is $40. The cost for a commercial business is $150.

Food vendor applications are also now being accepted. Local eateries, food trucks and culinary vendors of all types are welcome to submit an application. The cost to participate is $250.

The chamber also is looking for more than 100 adult volunteers to help make sure the event is safe and successful. Volunteering is split into three-to-four-hour time slots between 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Those interested in volunteering, being a vendor or sponsoring the event should visit queencreekparade.org.