The Ripon Garden Club is this year’s grand marshal of the 60th annual Almond Blossom Festival scheduled for February.

The appropriate theme is “Plant it, nurture it, watch it grow.”

But before the parade, queen coronation, and carnival & vendor fair is the official Ripon Chamber of Commerce kick-off event at Ripon City Hall, 259 N. Wilma Ave., on Thursday, Jan. 20, beginning at 6 p.m.

Cost is $10. Seats to this special reception are limited. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/almond-blossom-kick-off-reception-2022-tickets.

The highlight of the evening will be the speeches from the 15 Almond Blossom Queen Candidates – they’re currently juniors in high school residing in Ripon or attending local schools – focusing on this year’s theme honoring the Ripon Garden Club.

Light refreshments will be served from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

All the fun and festivities are planned for next month, with the queen coronation taking place on Feb. 24.

Other highlights include:

*Vendor Fair and Carnival at Mistlin Park on Feb 24 through Feb. 27.

*Almond Blossom Festival Fun Run, featuring 8K or 1-mile races, Feb. 26. Participants will receive a shirt, medal and goodie bag.

*Almond Blossom Festival Parade, Feb. 26, beginning at 1 p.m.

For more information, log on to www.riponchamber.org.