A parade of holiday cheer
Bundle up and get ready. The 2007 Christmas Parade ‘Celebrating Our Bicentennial Christmas’ is scheduled for this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Organizers are publicizing three big changes ‘ a longer parade, a new parade route, and different parking. The parade will be longer thanks to the increased number of entries.
‘We have 90 entries,’ said Leadership Warren member Larry Flatt. Although a good number, the challenge was to receive 200 entries for the 200th birthday of Warren County. ‘Last year we had about 70 so we are up about 20 percent from last year. We have a significant increase in the number of floats.’
In a change from past years, parade entries will line up at the Farmers Market and along a sectioned off piece of Colville Street directly behind the market. The parade will begin at the intersection of Market and Colville streets. From there, it will travel down Beersheba Street and turn left onto E. Main Street.
Proceeding between Beersheba Heights and Spangler Tower, the parade will travel the full length of Main Street going the opposite direction of normal traffic. The parade will turn right to travel in front of Hardee’s and turn right again onto Morford and travel down Morford against the normal flow of traffic before ending at Sparta Street.
Along with the new parade route, there will be a change in available parking and street closures. McMinnville Police Department will be closing the following streets for safety reasons:
‘ Main Street from noon until after the parade. There will be no parking allowed in this area between these times. Vehicles left along Main are subject to towing.
‘ Colville Street, behind the Farmers Market, from noon until after the parade will be limited to two lanes of traffic.
‘ Spring Street from Main to Colville will be closed from noon until after the parade.
Those visiting the parade are encouraged to park in city parking lots behind the Chamber of Commerce, Hoover and Son Insurance and on Spring Street down from Warren County Furniture. Parking will also be available at city hall.
While celebrating the county’s 200th birthday, the grand marshals are county historian James Dillon and his wife. Well known for his keen knowledge of Warren County history, Dillon has spent many years of his life researching and preserving the area’s history.
Last but not least, Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance as the parade’s final float.
Parade route
‘ Begin at intersection of Market and Colville streets
‘ Proceed down Beersheba Street and turn left onto E. Main Street
‘ Go between Beersheba Heights and Spangler Tower, and travel the full length of Main Street going the opposite direction of normal traffic
‘ Turn right to travel in front of Hardee’s
‘ Turn right onto Morford Street and travel against normal traffic
‘ End at Sparta Street