Published: November 20, 2009 07:34 pm      

Annual Christmas Parade planned

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Plans are underway for the annual Downtown Mt. Vernon Christmas Parade, and several events are scheduled to be held in conjunction with the annual event.

“The parade is in the evening, so there’s lots of lights, music and fun,” organizer Debbie Chiapelli said. “And, we always have Santa Claus.”

The theme for the parade this year is “A Christmas Story.”

“There are lots of Christmas stories out there,” Chiapelli said. “There’s the movie, ‘A Christmas Story,’ but there are also all kinds of movies and stories that can be used, including the real story of Christmas. So pick your favorite and come on out.”

The parade, sponsored by Mt. Vernon Net, Inc., will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, with entries judged at 5 p.m. The parade route will go from Seventh Street at C.E. Brehm Memorial Library, down Main Street to 10th Street, turn south for one block to Broadway, then proceed back to the streets near Mt. Vernon Township High School. Entries will line up on the streets near the high school prior to parade start.

According to Chiapelli, awards will be given to entries for Best Organization, Best Performance, Best Lighting and Best Youth Club.

Those who would like to participate in the parade should contact Chiapelli, but anyone who decides at the last minute to sign up shouldn’t worry.

“We like to be able to plan, but we’ll take entries up to the day of the parade,” Chiapelli said. “If someone wants to be in the parade, we’ll fit them in.”

In conjunction with the parade, a decorating contest will be held downtown, sponsored by the Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation Promotions Committee.

Those who would like additional information about the parade or who would like to sign up to participate, should contact Chiapelli at 242-0385. Additional information about the Downtown Decorating Contest is available by contacting the DMDC at 242-6866.