SPARKS – Two local parades will feature Regional Transportation Commission transit in support of community programs for local children and seniors. RTC’s Toyland Express will roll in Reno’s Holidazzle parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday and the agency’s historic 1950s Bus 109 will ride in the Sparks’ Hometowne Christmas Parade at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5.

In Reno, the RTC Toyland Express will promote the annual Camp Christmas, a partnership with the Salvation Army, radio station Sunny 106.9 FM, Meadowood Mall and the RTC. Camp Christmas is based at Meadowood Mall 24 hours a day from noon on Friday to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Community members are invited to the RTC Toyland Express to drop off unwrapped gifts or gift cards for needy local children or seniors.  A Santa will be on hand to accept the donations and the Salvation Army will help him distribute them locally.

In Sparks, RTC is celebrating 30 years of service to the community providing quality transportation systems in the Truckee Meadows. Historic Bus 109 will carry students from Lincoln Park Elementary School in the Sparks Hometowne Christmas Parade. The students are finalists in the school-wide RTC sponsored art contest that used the city’s Celebration of Angels parade theme. RTC invited finalists to ride onboard the bus. Following the parade, student art will be displayed at RTC’s Centennial Plaza from 3 to 4:30 p.m. during the Sparks celebration.  The public is welcome to tour the free art show at Centennial Plaza.