The Cumming Christmas parade, one of the biggest celebrations of the year in Forsyth County, takes place Saturday, Dec. 3 along Market Place Boulevard.

The event is brought to you by the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Cumming.

“Everybody loves a parade,” said Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, in a statement on the Marketplace Christmas Web site.

In addition to the parade, the celebration begins on Saturday with the annual Jingle Jog 5K, ending with the Celebration of Lights and the lighting of the Christmas tree at Northside Hospital-Forsyth.

Below you'll find information regarding each event:

Jingle Jog 5K begins at Cumming Town Center located at 2085 Market Place Boulevard in Cumming. Participants will travel east down Mary Alice Park Road and loop back to Cumming Town Center. The Jingle Jog is a chip timed race, with water stops along the way, with a fantastic participant package and a festive event shirt. It is also a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Walkers are encouraged to join the fun, but jog strollers and pets are not permitted for this race.

Registration information can be found here and packets can be picked up on Friday, Dec. 2 at Troncalli Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Subaru Dealership located at 818 Atlanta Road in Cumming from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

On race day, registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race will start at 9 a.m.

The Cumming Christmas parade takes place along Market Place Boulevard from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (See our video of last year's parade).

Celebration of Lights follows the parade at Northside Hospital-Forsyth located at 1200 Northside Forsyth Drive in Cumming from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For the 23rd year, Northside Hospital will honor those affected by cancer with the lighting of giant Christmas trees atop its campuses in Cumming, Alpharetta and Atlanta. 

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend this year's event. Entertainment provided by the following:

• First Baptist Church of Cumming Hand Bell Choir
• Coal Mountain Elementary
• Settles Bridge Elementary
• Haw Creek Elementary
• The Synergy Cloggers
• Sole Impulse Dance Studio

Santa will be available for photos and many other activities will be offered for the kids.

“Celebration of Lights is such a wonderful event that I look forward to each year and I know that our staff, our patients and the community do too,” said Lynn Jackson, administrator, Northside Hospital-Forsyth. “It’s a great reminder of the hope and promise that the holiday season can bring, which is what we want for everyone affected by cancer.”

Visit the Northside Hospital Web site for more information about Celebration of Lights.

About Northside Hospital

A National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP), Northside Hospital is one of the largest and most respected providers of comprehensive cancer services in the Southeast, combining the latest in technology and research with compassionate patient-centered care.  Each light on the Christmas trees represents someone whose life has been touched by cancer.  Lights can be purchased and designated in honor or memory of physicians, family and friends, with all proceeds benefiting research, education and treatment through Northside’s Cancer Care Program. Lights will be available for purchase at the Celebration of Lights event on Dec. 3 and throughout the holiday season.