Friday, 23 Nov. 2012, will mark the City of Sonora’s 29th annual
Christmas Parade. This event always falls on the Friday following
Thanksgiving Day and is attended by thousands of on lookers. The Sonora
Police Department is tasked with traffic control and security for the
parade.
The Sonora Police Department and the City of Sonora would like
to remind everyone that the correct location for dropping off
participants for the parade is on Shaws Flat Road, in front of Sonora
High School. The participants can then walk across the campus to the
staging area. Disabled participants may be dropped off at the
intersection of South Washington and School Street.
“NO PARKING” will be allowed on Washington Street from the Red
Church to Williams Street. The “NO PARKING” restriction will start at 2
pm on Friday, 23 Nov. 2012. If you park in this area the Sonora Police
Department will attempt to contact you, so you can move your vehicle.
Unfortunately, if you can’t be contacted or you can’t move your vehicle
in a timely manner, your vehicle will be towed.
Also this year, “NO PARKING” will be allowed on the side streets
between Washington Street and Green Street and between Washington
Street and Stewart. These restrictions will start at 2 pm on Friday, 23
Nov. 2012, and vehicles will be towed these areas as well.
The Tuolumne County Transit’s Holiday Trolley will run from
9:00 am to 9:00 pm, on the day of the parade. There are several pick-up
and drop off locations in the downtown area. For more information
regarding the Holiday Trolley schedule you may call 209-532-0404, or log
onto www.tuolumnecountytransit.com .
As a result of the parade, there will be several street closures
and detours, along with a lot of traffic and pedestrian congestion.
Below is a list of the street closures and the detours that will be in
place during the parade. All detour routes will be marked.
MAIN STREET CLOSURES
• School Street will be closed from 2:00 pm until approx. 8:00 pm.
• Washington Street will be closed to “ALL” traffic from the
intersection of Snell Street to the intersection of Hospital Road from
5:00 pm until approx. 8:00 pm.
• Restano Way will be closed from 5:00 pm until approx. 8:00 pm.
• Stockton Road will be closed to “ALL” traffic at the intersection of S. Green Street and Stockton Road.
DETOURS
• Southbound traffic on Washington St. will be detoured onto Elkin St., then onto Stewart Street, then up Mono Way.
• Northbound traffic on Washington St. will be detoured up Hospital
Road to Mono Way and down Mono Way onto Stewart Street, then onto Elkin
and back onto Washington St.
• Eastbound traffic on Stockton Road will be stopped at Green Street
and turned around. Northbound Highway 49 traffic will detour up Forest
Rd. from Stockton Road, then up Bonanza St. to Highway 49.
The goal of the Sonora Police Department is to ensure the safety
of motorists, spectators, pedestrian and participants. If you are
attending the parade, the Sonora Police Department suggests you arrive
prior to the 5:00 pm street closures. This will allow plenty of time to
find parking. If you are not attending the parade, you may want to
avoid the downtown area to minimize your frustration with the street
closures and large volume of traffic.
Remember, following the parade there will be a large amount of
vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the downtown area. Take your time and
be considerate. Normally, the traffic in the downtown area will clear
out in approximately 30 minutes, so turn on some holiday music and enjoy
the start of the holiday season while waiting. Please call the Sonora
Police Department at 209-532-8141 if you should have any quesitons.
