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This year’s
PMCCC Princeton Christmas parade is
slated for December 1, 2008 starting at 6 pm (Lineup
begins at 5 pm). This parade has become one of the largest in
the state. There is no charge for entry and everyone is welcome.
All we ask is that you register
in advance to help us determine line-up.
Floats will be judged and prizes given out in different
categories. We have already received several entries. The
theme is “A Caroling Christmas"
Last year's parade incorporated
something new:
A wagon was pulled
through the parade into which parade goers could donate
non-perishable food items to be given to the Salvation Army and Tender Mercies. We hope to continue this food drive again this year and start a tradition!
The beginning of the parade will again
start at the old Thomchin furniture at the 5th Street stoplight. Some units
will line up down East Mercer Street towards the railroad and some of the units up towards the
bridge on Thorn street. We are planning to divert thru traffic off
of
Thorn Street
down S. Wickham. As each entry arrives, you will be told
where you will line-up (see lineup information below). As in the past, the parade will end at
the Courthouse.
For Safety reasons,
please observe these rules in the parade.
(1)
Candy cannot be thrown from any floats or units.
This helps avoid 3 safety hazards. 1) Hard candy could possibly
hurt someone when thrown hard enough to make the distance from
the unit to the crowd. 2) It has been observed in past parades
that small kids run out in front of floats to pick up the candy
off the street. 3) Also, even at 5 mph, if a float driver has to
stop suddenly for a child running into the street for candy, he
could possibly throw his people off the float injuring them or
damage the float itself. Also, you will waste less candy
this way...
If you want to give out candy during
the parade, have people walking beside the floats and handing it
out or using short tosses.
The myth here is that there will not be
as much candy for the kids. The truth is that there will be more
usable candy for the kids. Much of the hard candies thrown the
longer distance crack and break on the street, being left for
the the City crews (who by the way are to be highly commended for
their outstanding job of cleaning up after the parade).
(2) ATV’s/Motorcycles will have some
restrictions on them. Everyone will be required to wear
helmets and have standard factory installed muffler systems. If
you are under 18 years of age, you will have to have your
training certificate. All ATV’s and motorcycles will meet at
the corner of
Thorn Street
and
Hines Ave.
across from Bud Hypes Plumbing.
Each bike will be checked and then all
ATV’s and Motorcycles will ride together in the parade. At the
end of the parade, the ATV’s and Motorcycles will be escorted
back to the starting point to be placed on your trailer.
The above changes are put in place this
year for everyone’s safety, whether you are a spectator or
actually in the parade. We want everyone to have fun but be safe
doing it…
The deadline to enter the parade is
November 28, 2008. If you have any questions or want to enter
the parade, please call the Chamber office at 487-1502.
LINE
UP INFORMATION
Fire/EMS units will begin lining up on
Mercer St starting at Golden Pawn and the Straley Ave - 5th St
loop just as they did last year. They will go first after
ROTC.
Dignitaries will line up where Mercer
splits at the triangle.
Floats will line up on Thorn St beginning
at or about N. 3rd St. This also applies to car
clubs/individuals and business vehicles (vans/trucks,
etc.), beauty queens.
ATVs and motorbikes will congregate across
from the Princeton Times office on Hines St.
Marching bands will assemble at the top of
East Mercer St (their busses should park on S. 4th just as
they usually do.
Other marching units and walkers will also
assemble on mid-lower end of East Mercer.
Tractor-trailer flatbeds for ball teams,
etc. (like Glenwood Raiders and PHS football team) should come
up South 2nd St and park on East Mercer to pick up their
members. Parents dropping off kids for these should enter from
Brick St., up S. 2nd to East Mercer, then exit down S. 3rd.
Horses will start from the Railroad Museum
area just as last year.
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