Saline is looking for a few good clowns.

This year's installment of the Annual Saline Holiday Parade will feature a clown corps, and organizers are looking for about a dozen clowns the crowds, said Mary Alice Smith, project coordinator for the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers need to have their own clown costume and makeup, Smith said.

The idea came from Art Trapp, Saline's downtown development director, who said he read that people like to dress up like clowns and thought it might be fun to float the idea in Saline.

Saline’s Annual Holiday Parade will take place Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. beginning at Davenport Street and Michigan Avenue and heading west to Lewis Street. The grandstands are at the Michigan Avenue and Ann Arbor Street intersection.

With a theme of “A Saline Christmas Story,” the 35th annual event, which is planned and coordinated by the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce, “is going to be, without a doubt, the best ever,” said Larry Osterling, executive director at the chamber.

Hundreds of volunteers lend a hand for the event that kicks off Holiday Week in Saline.

“The best part to me is seeing the amount of cooperation that goes into this event with all kinds of community groups, the City of Saline, and a corps of chamber members who get involved,” Osterling said. “It says a lot about us, and really helps spread a feeling of holiday cheer and hope for the future.”

Woody Merchant has been named the grand marshal for this year’s parade.

“She’s been active in the community for many years and we are honoring her as grand marshal for her long-time standing and commitment to Saline,” said Smith.

Featured are floats, dance groups, drum lines, bands, hired performers, animals, baton twirlers, unicyclists — even a hot air balloon. Mrs. Claus, animals and Santa will arrive in his sleigh with his chief elf at the end of the parade.

After the parade, children and their parents can visit Santa’s Village at the newly renovated Stone Arch Arts and Events, 117 South Ann Arbor St.

Saline will have its tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 3, the day before the parade, at 7 p.m. at Ann Arbor Street and Michigan Avenue. The tree was donated by David and Wendy Kivi of Lodi Township Trapp said.

“The tree was in their front yard. It was planted 25 years ago and began encroaching on their front porch,” he said. "They were either going to cut it down and get rid of it or donate it and they contacted us. We gladly accepted."

Also on Dec. 3, the Moonlight Craft Show, a benefit for local school groups, takes place from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Saline Middle School at 7190 North Maple Road.

During Holiday Parade weekend, the Saline Area Players will perform “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at Stone Arch Arts and Events, Dec. 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 4 and 5 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended, call 734-677-3727.

On Dec. 4, Michigan Avenue will be closed to traffic at 5 p.m., for the parade, and early arrival is recommended. There’s a free shuttle coach available from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. between Busch’s Shopping Center and the shuttle stop in the parking lot behind Mac’s Acadian Seafood Shack in downtown Saline.

Holiday Week culminates on Dec. 11 with horse-drawn carriage rides and “Treasure Trail to Santa” at Busch’s Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event includes horse-drawn carriage rides.

The Saline Chamber of Commerce has a complete list of activities for the Holiday Parade and Holiday Week.

Anyone interested in being a part of the clown corps for the parade is asked to call Smith at the chamber at 734-429-4494 for more information and to register.

Lisa Allmendinger is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lallmendinger@sbcglobal.net. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.