The Block Street Businesses float during Lights of the Ozarks 2011 parade.

Staff photo

The Fayetteville Square will once again be alive with holiday lights beginning on Saturday, Nov. 17.

For the 20th year, the city’s annual Lights of the Ozarks display will begin with a lighting ceremony and parade set for Saturday night at 6 p.m. This year’s parade grand marshal is Mayor Lioneld Jordan, and Santa H. Claus himself will also make an appearance for photo opportunities.

The parade, organized this year by students in the UA Hospitality Management department and the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, will feature dozens of area businesses and community groups.

The annual lighting display is funded in part by a $15,000 contribution from the Fayetteville A&P Commission, and includes tens of thousands of LED lights that take around 2,200 hours to install.

The commission also coordinates the lighting ceremony, which will include carriage rides, pony rides, and camel rides around the square.

Lights of the Ozarks will remain on display through December 31, 2012. More details about the event are available at thelightsoftheozarks.com.