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Parade just around the corner
Published Friday, November 9, 2007
NATCHEZ — With holidays fast approaching, plans for the annual Christmas parade are in place. On Dec. 8, Santa and friends will stroll along downtown streets.
This year’s parade theme is Natchez Children’s Christmas.
The city, which is organizing the event, is purchasing decorations for 12 floats, parade committee member Carrie Lambert said.
“They are going to be designing some facades possibly to resemble antebellum homes,” Lambert said. “Since the theme of the parade is Natchez Children’s Christmas, we’d like to pull in some of Natchez, as well as (decorations such as) toys and presents.”
Those interested can purchase the professional decorations for $500 this year and $500 next year.
“Each (float) will say, ‘Sponsored by so-and-so,’” Lambert said. “After the parade, the decorations will come off the floats and go onto the bluff. This way, it’s a dual purpose. For a month, whoever sponsors them will have free advertising on the bluff.”
The city is looking for anyone with 6-by-10 foot flatbed trailers to donate the use of those for the parade.
Along with floats, bands, street jugglers, musicians and clowns will entertain crowds, she said.
But this year, the parade won’t allow just any vehicle to participate.
“What we don’t want is undecorated trailers with kids sitting on top of hay,” parade committee member Sally Durkin said. “That will not be accepted. They have to do something in keeping with the theme. It has to be decorated.”
The only undecorated vehicles allowed will be transporting dignitaries along the parade route.
“Nobody wants to stand on the side of a street and watch traffic go by with a cardboard sign on the car,” committee member Darrell White said at a recent organizational meeting.
Those who want to participate can submit their decoration ideas to Lambert at the Natchez Downtown Development Association office. Nonprofit organizations will be charged a $10 entry fee, and commercial organizations will pay $20.
As a prelude to the holiday cheer, the annual Christmas tree lighting will be 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Residents can also enjoy free cocoa and entertainment.
Comments
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The time for the parade is not given, but it is on a Saturday. There will be many children who cannot come as their parents work a six day week. The downtown stores will lose one of their premium shopping days for the month, ergo fewer taxes for the city, county, and state. The city is spending tax dollars to decorate floats. Are they also using tax dollars to pay the decorators? The only undecorated vehicles allowed will be transporting dignitaries (is this the clowns?).
Before you say that the stores should be grateful for all the people downtown, put on your thinking cap. There will be no parking on the streets involved for hours before and hours after the parade. Would you like to try to handle your kids, thrown candies, etc with shopping bags in your hands. No! The only things the stores are used for during parades are: bathroom stops, warming stations if it is cold, cooling stations if it is hot, and boredom stoppers while waiting for the parade to begin. I forgot it is also the shoplifters mecca! When it is over, it is a race to the cars to get out of the traffic. There are only a few Saturdays to shop before Christmas and this makes one less. The store owners have kids too. They want the parade. Sunday afternoon has been proven to be the best time all around for it.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
great post frog. I've heard many business owners express the same thoughts. Even the traffic situation trying to get home is troubling to most people. It seems they could find a better route for the parade. I'm sure they could if they put their minds to it. And as far as the city throwing our tax dollars around they could have thrown it in the direction of our protection heroes as far as I'm concerned. The parade will go on whether our tax dollars are there or not. I usually enjoy the parade, but this clouds my anticipation. They would rather spend the money on a parade instead of paying the policemen and firemen a decent salary. Go figure!!!!
Posted by mommy3 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The downtown store owners and other businesses will be PAYING to help decorate these floats(which is why it will state being sponsored by "so and so" as it says in the article). Before everyone gets in a "tizzy" about it, know that the business owners helped in the decision making of the date and time of the parade.Otherwise why would they spend THEIR money to sponsor a parade that would shut down THEIR business hours? The decorations that are being bought will be transferred after the parade to the bluff and set up for families to ride by and see, along with some familiar Christmas decorations from the past.
I was co-chairman of the parade last year and it went off with only a few hitches, with no help from the alot of merchants. So I like others, was skeptical of the "money" aspect of the parade, and how downtown merchants would play into it. Have no worries, no one is trying to scam anyone or turn this parade into something that is not about the children of Natchez. I made sure that was our main priority, and I can give you assurance it is.
Although the parade usually is on Sunday, there were many, many people in the community who could not make it because of conflicts with church programs, church services, and those who (like many) have a 7 day work week. So the decision was made to have a night time parade, which gives so much more to the float decorating aspect. We want every float to be fantastic, to give the crowd a much more enjoyable parade.
So please don't make this parade into something it's not. The only difference from last year is NDDA is involved, and merchants along with other great businesses in our coummunity will be financially supporting the parade (which does have expenses).The turnout and feedback from the parade last year was so unexpected,even from an organizer's standpoint.The COMMUNITY came together and made the parade great. When we crossed Main Street down on Broadway, I had tears in my eyes. It looked like a scene from Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There were so many people! I know the people of Natchez and the Miss-Lou will do the same thing this year, and I for one can't wait to see the smiling faces of children, young and old.
SEE YOU AT THE PARADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Spring-Bourke
Natchez Parade Committee
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In my own experience the parades DO NOT do anything for the merchants but take away any and all sales for the entire time the traffic is blocked before, during and after the parade.
Posted by cynthiafleming (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Stephanie!!!!!! I was born and raised in Natchez and can honestly say that the most "magical" time of the year for me was Christmas and participating in the Christmas parade from the time I was 3. I truly hope that the Nay-Sayers in Natchez come together for the children and help them make memories and traditions like we had when we were children. In light of the war and crime and the recalls we have everyday now, just for a little while we should all enjoy a part of what the season stands for, family and celebrations. Share one of the most important things that we can give our children, our time, and take them to the Natchez Christmas parade. Like me, they will remember it fondly for a lifetime...
Posted by brod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
About 5 decades ago, Christmas was Christmas and the annual parade was a sight to behold. All or most of the businesses in town, churches, and civic groups, decorated their own floats. Hey, it was a tax write-off, "advertising." And, it was all about the children then, too. As a child, the Christmas parade was the high-light of the year. My concern at present, is the police and security during this event. In the past several years there's been so much pushing and shoving and people getting knocked down. I have seen groups of young men walk right up to the barriers and push young children to the back so they could yell at some young girl or a band member. Please people, it is for the children. Think of their safety first.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not only the people of Natchez look forward to your Christmas parade. The people in your neighboring communities do as well. I am from Fayette, and everyone I work with is from Natchez. The first week in December, I start asking, "When is the Christmas parade?"
My son gets joy out of watching it.
I can only imagine how beautiful a night parade would be with the lights reflecting on the decorations. It can also be romantic. LOL! I was told that Vicksburg has their Christmas parade at night and how beautiful it is.
Natchez, I know I will be waiting for it.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can we have more bands this year and have them play Christmas music? That has always been one of my favorite things! Looking forward to it!
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The ppl who live here just don't shop downtown enough. Some do, but not enough.
Posted by loventz84 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The parades used to be on Saturday's b/c I can remember being in them when I was in high school and we'd have to meet up there. And even before then I remember riding in my dad's motorcycle trailer and throwing candy to all the other kids. It was a blast. I can't wait til my children are a little older and in a group that participates in them. I think going back to Saturday evenings would be nice b/c as it was we'd have to rush to eat Sunday dinner after church and then get to the parade route.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe that there is a hugh safety issue at every parade with the children (and adults) running in the street past the baracades to pick candy and trinkets from the street. We just do not have enough security for crowd control. Not wanting to be a hum-bug scrooge about it, but I believe the folks on the floats that throw the candy and trinkets should either throw them as far past the baracades as they can or not throw anything at all. All too many times I see folks, especially at Mardi Gras, throwing right at the people's feet next to their float which only encourages more people to get closer to the moving floats.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Put Christmas parade in the search line at the top of this page and you will find information about past parades. Seems last year's was on Sunday afternoon and one of the longest ever. Enjoyed by all, especially the kids on hay bales on a lightly decorated trailer!
Click on the "NDDA supports Christmas parade" article and you will see that the parade had been moved to early Saturday morning so the merchants could open by noon. The article states "The move to hold the parade in the morning in an effort to overcome problems associated with past nighttime parades, including vandalism, personal safety, and lighting." We have too few policemen now to patrol the town. So just who are the ones responsible for extra security this year?
Mommy3, just who are these businesses who are paying for these decorations. Do you already have them lined up? Are they merchants depending on selling merchandise, or are they the gambling boat, restaurants, and bars?
Whatever! It is done and I hope the kids enjoy the parade and I hope it imparts to them what the season is all about. It is not santa claus. Christmas is about Christ. Without Him, our kids do not have much of a future, whether they can remember a parade or not.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on November 11, 2007 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good post >>frogprincessntz<< I'm wondering if just one float will be the NATIVITY. I moved into an apt complex 11 years ago and noticed a lot of little children in the same area. Most of these kids never went to Sunday School, so I had a birthday party for all of them to attend the weekend before Christmas that year. I invited them all and told them not to bring a present. When they arrived they found that it was a HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS. Some asked who was Jesus. I explained and we sang Christmas songs, had cake and ice cream, just like a regular b/d party. As they were leaving, each left with a little gift bag, representing a gift from Jesus. My grandaughters were young then and helped with the party. They remember it with fond memories and so did the attendees. Maybe I helped in some small way to bring Jesus into their lives. I pray I did.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 12, 2007 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
destiny - what a wonderful thing to do! I hope that the Christmas parade will have His story, and not just "get, get, get" mentality! I remember the parades used to be on Friday night, because I would go downtown after school and meet my parents at their places of work to watch the parade then. All the stores would close up so everyone could get out to watch. Of course, I am pretty old! lol
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