On a Saturday evening in early December, downtown Elizabethton may be filled with the sounds of 11 pipers piping or perhaps the streets will be fill with nine ladies dancing.
The theme for this year’s Christmas Parade hosted by the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce will be “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
“It’s such a traditional Christmas song we thought the community would have a good time with it,” said Elizabeth White with the Chamber of Commerce. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
White said the Chamber has a list of possible themes for the Christmas parade they work from each year and no one could recall ever hosting a parade with the 12 Days of Christmas theme so they decided to go for it.
In addition to announcing the theme, the Chamber now has Christmas Parade Applications available. Applications can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce, located at 500 Highway 19E Bypass, or online at the Chamber’s website at http://www.elizabethtonchamber.com.
The Elizabethton Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. in downtown Elizabethton.
To be eligible to take part in the parade, participants must complete and submit an application along with payment no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The cost for Chamber of Commerce members to enter a parade unit is $25 while the cost for non-members is $30. A parade unit consists of a band, dance team, float, vehicle, or a group of walking participants.
The Chamber encourages all participants to use a “12 Days of Christmas” theme when decorating their floats or other parade items.
There are some restrictions in place for what is allowed and what is not permitted for the parade:
• Please refrain from submitting any item that has the potential to cause harm to parade participants and on-lookers.
• All entries must abide with a parade quality standard respecting fundamental values being ethical, family friendly, and accountable for the representation of their organization.
• Santa is provided by the parade committee/Chamber of Commerce and MAY NOT appear on or with any other parade unit or float.
•Parade participants are not allowed to throw or eject candy, toys, or any other items from parade units. Candy MUST BE handed to spectators from walking participants along the side of barricades only.
• All pageant entries are limited to first place winners only.
• No live animals. Please contact the Chamber for questions.
• All propaganda items are prohibited along with campaigning literature.
• Entries shall comply with all laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations of lawful authority, agency or governmental unit, which apply to the City of Elizabethton.
For more information on the parade, please contact the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce at 423-547-3850.