Parade watchers who plan on staking an ideal vantage point along West Kleberg Avenue or West Yoakum Avenue between Third Street and Sixth Street to view Saturday’s Parade of Lights are in for a big surprise this year — they’ll miss the parade.

La Posada de Kingsville Parade of Lights officials have changed the traditional route for this year’s event.

The parade, which begins at 7 p.m., will start out at the Kleberg County Courthouse and proceed west on Kleberg Avenue, cross Sixth Street, turn north on Pvt. Alarcon Street between Kleberg Bank and the Railroad Depot Museum, then turn east on Yoakum Avenue and travel back to the courthouse.

Blame it on the railroad for the shortened parade route, according to Becky Huss, one of the parade organizers.

Over the years, Union Pacific has scheduled trains that travel through Kingsville during the parade, often splitting it in two and delaying completion of the parade, which this year is expected to attract 70 to 80 entries.

Safety concerns for parade floats and marchers crossing the railroad tracks, and the inability to get any consideration from Union Pacific for the once-a-year event, prompted the decision, Huss said.

The Rev. Idotha Battle is the parade marshal for Saturday’s Parade of Lights. She was chosen by La Posada in recognition of her many years of community service.

Bishop forms 911