Montesano’s Festival of Lights is in full swing.

Now in its 31st year, the event runs through Sunday, with its featured event — the annual nighttime Grand Parade — beginning at 6 p.m. today.

The Montesano Chamber of Commerce’s Brooke Chapman, who is in her first year of organizing the festival, having taken over for long-time coordinator Moraya Wilson, explained that the humorous theme of this year’s event is “I saw Monte kissing Santa Claus.”

Saturday, Dec. 9, will see a pancake breakfast featuring Santa Claus at the Montesano Community Center, at which a silent auction will be held. Proceeds will help fund future festivals. A craft fair will also be held in the Montesano High School commons that day.

“Businesses around town donate anywhere from $200 to $500 and then the craft fair brings money back in,” Chapman explained of how the festival is paid for. “We charge $35 to anyone who wants to do a craft fair booth, but then if you’re a non-profit, it’s free. And then we also charge for the food vendors along the parade route, and that is $35.”

Chapman said that this year the chamber has also received a lodging tax tourism grant that will help reimburse advertising and signage expenses.

“It’s really starting to become self-sustaining, because it’s been going for so many years,” Chapman added of the festival.

She said organizers try to estimate attendance, with about 3,000 people typically seen along the parade route.

Today

• 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. – Pancake breakfast w/Santa at Montesano Community Center. $5 perperson.

• 8 a.m.-11 a.m. – Santa’s Sweet Shoppe goodies for the kid in us all, big and small.

• 9 a.m.-10 p.m. – Art show featuring Ken Hurley at Whitney’s Chevrolet showroom.

• 10 a.m.-3 p.m – Craft fair/Christmas bazaar at Montesano Junior High Gym & HS Commons.

9 a.m.-finish – Jingle Bell Jog, 2 mile fun walk or 12k race. Pre-register at HS: adults $20, children(10 and under) $15. Adults $25, child $18. Contact Anne at 360-249-4041.

Noon-6 p.m – Chehalis Valley Historical Museum Tours. 703 W. Pioneer Ave.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Grays Harbor Historical Courthouse Tours.

1 p.m-2 p.m – Live local performers at GH County Courthouse. Simpson Honor Choir at 1 p.m.;1:20 p.m. Simpson Jr. High School Choir; 1:40 p.m. MHS Choir & Treble Makers.

2 p.m-3 p.m – Children’s program at the Monte Timberland Library: The Shoemaker and the Elf.

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m – Scavenger hunt, meet at Umpqua Bank.

4 p.m.-6 p.m. – Chowder Feed by Monte Fire Department Volunteer Association.

4 p.m-7 p.m. – Homemade chili and cornbread at the Monte Moose Lodge, $3 per person.

4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. – Cocoa Factory at Montesano Fitness Center Studio. All donations support Connections (Children’s Advocacy Center).

5 p.m.-6p.m. – Open house and refreshments, Friends of the Library at the W. H. Abel MemorialLibrary. Live music by Grays Harbor Banjo Band.

6 p.m. – Grand Parade with 2017 Grand Marshall Moraya Wilson.

7 p.m. – Lighting of the Yule Log at Fleet Park.

7 p.m. – Self-guided driving tours of Montesano’s decorated homes and businesses.

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – Live Nativity at the Montesano Presbyterian Church.

7:30 p.m. – Dukes of Swing at the Montesano Moose Lodge. $3 per person.

Sunday

10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Art show featuring Ken Hurley at Whitney’s Chevrolet showroom.

1 p.m. – Ringing in the Yule Log and Christmas Sing-a-long at Schafer State Park. FOSLS.org orcall Stet at 360-789-9953.

7 p.m. – Christmas Cantata at United Methodist Church. 401 E. Spruce Avenue.