The little parade with a big impact: Olivehurst’s annual holiday event is a point of pride for the community

"I think there is a rivalry, but I don't know that Marysville knows there is," Burbank said. "We would love to have as many entries as they do every year, but we always come up short."

Short or not, the annual Olivehurst Parade is a holiday highlight for the south Yuba County community.

The march down Olivehurst Avenue from Ninth Avenue to Fifth Avenue starts at 11 a.m. The theme for this year's 46th event is "Gingerbread Christmas."

"It is a huge deal," said organizer Angie Gates. "It is a generational thing. My husband was a kid when he went and now our kids are going.

"It's not a selling type of thing. It's just for the community."

Burbank said the entries for the parade this year are a little down, likely because of concerns over the possibility of foul weather. As of Friday afternoon, there were about 30 entries when there typically are 50 or more, she said.

But Burbank also noted forecasts call for clear skies, and there is still time to enter.

"If we can hit 40, we will be doing well," she said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting mostly sunny skies in Marysville with a high near 55 degrees and calm winds. Like Marysville's annual Bok Kai Parade, the rain seems to give the parade a pass each year.

"It always seems to clear out for the Olivehurst Parade," Gates said. "It's like baby Bok Kai. It just never rains on our parade. At least, I don't remember it raining."

Even if the entries are fewer, crowds lining Olivehurst Avenue for the event are expected to be out in the usual big numbers.

"We have such a loving community, and it is really special to see them all come out for this," Burbank said.

As for that probably one-sided friendly rivalry, Gates also acknowledges its existence, at least among organizers.

"Every year, I want to know how many they have so I know what we are shooting for," she said. "If it wasn't for the weather, we may have come close this year."

There were more than 60 taking part in the Marysville parade earlier this month.

"We are very aware of it (rivalry), and one of these years we are going to kick their heinies," Gates said.

And it probably doesn't really matter whether Marysville parade organizers know it or not.

Today's big events

• Olivehurst Christmas Parade — 11 a.m. today on Olivehurst Avenue, starting at Ninth Avenue and ending at Fifth Avenue.

• "The Big Give Away" — for families in need, noon-4 p.m. today at Calvary Christian Center-Plumas Lake/Olivehurst, 4902 Powerline Road, Olivehurst.

• "Santa's Village" Christmas Stroll — 2 p.m.-9 p.m. today on Plumas Street, downtown Yuba City. Includes parade at 6 p.m., tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by Downtown Business Association.