Christmas Parade gets underway
Saturday evening
By Becky Long
Publisher
Clay County will usher in the holidays with the traditional Hayesville Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 on the downtown square.
Marking its 38th year, the parade has been sponsored by the Clay County Progress newspaper since its inception in 1987.
Grand marshals
Clay County veterans from the George Lee American Legion Post 532 and Allison-Bristol Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6812 will be our grand marshals as they have for the past few decades.
This year’s traditional events combine with a few new twists.
Santa’s visit
Santa will be the parade finale, but children and parents may greet him on the square before the parade gets underway.
A photo op will be provided in front of the historic courthouse/Beal Center with a colorful holiday-themed archway and an opportunity for children to share what’s on their wish lists. Parents are encouraged and welcome to take photos.
Santa will greet children from 4- 5 p.m., but he must leave promptly at 5 p.m. in order to join the parade procession at the staging area of the new courthouse parking lot. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ushered off in HHI’s Red Ryder only to return in a grand sleigh for the parade finale.
We are also expecting carolers on the square which will enhance the spirit of the holiday event.
The Hayesville Christmas Parade is a county-wide event in which all organizations from our schools and volunteer groups, businesses and churches are encouraged to participate.
Judging begins
Judging for floats and other participants begins at 4 p.m. in the parking lot at the courthouse. Judges, Progress parade coordinators and the Clay County Sheriffs Office will be helping guide floats and answer questions in the parking area.
Meanwhile, as the crowd begins to form on the downtown square, everyone is reminded of the necessity to park away from corners on the square because many participants are in huge trucks and have large floats, making it difficult to maneuver the turns, particularly in corners along the route.
Parents are encouraged to keep children close and at a safe distance during the parade. Everyone will have plenty of candy to take home.
The parade route
The procession will follow that of the past several years, traveling from the courthouse, the parade will travel down the hill, take a right and travel in front of the Hayesville Methodist Church and George’s Hardware, straight through town past Tiger’s Store, left turn in front of Town Hall and another left turn traveling in front of Post It, where it will take a right and travel down the hill to the stop sign at the library and back to the staging or parking area.