The 23rd annual Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

The theme this year is Characters of Christmas. The parade will start at Junction City High School and follow a route down Eisenhower to 6th Street and then go east on 6th to Washington Street downtown.

The parade will be broadcast on 1420 KJCK AM and FM 107.9.

At the conclusion of the parade Santa Claus will arrive in Heritage Park to participate in a lighting ceremony and will then meet with children.