What has promises of becoming an annual event, the “Strolling Rolling Apponaug Winter Festival” comes to the village Saturday

The festival, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include a parade at 10 a.m. as its centerpiece, with a route taking the parade through all four of Apponaug’s  corners.

Business Development Planner Sue Baker said those parading will be a surprise, although the parade will include bands, characters, dancers and floats.

Additionally, City Council President Stephen McAllister said that City Hall, located near the end of the parade route, will play host to movie-goers looking to watch some Christmas movies.

“I know we’re all looking forward to that,” McAllister said.

The festival will also feature an outdoor marketplace, horse-and-carriage rides, a touch-a-truck event, food trucks, a karate demonstration, nativity scenes, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and face painting, among other activities throughout the village.

The festival does have a rain date of this Sunday- although if it is rained out, the parade cannot be rescheduled because it would interfere with church services at the parishes located at Apponaug Four Corners, according to Baker. The current forecast for Saturday is cloudy, with a high of 50 degrees Fahrenheit expected to be reached during the festival and a low of 34 in the early morning, rain is not expected.

Parking will also be available at Toll Gate High School, with handicap-accessible shuttle vans transporting attendees to and from Apponaug throughout the duration of the festival.

Baker said she would like to make the event an annual one- though that is contingent on community support and the success of the first one on Saturday