MOUNT VERNON — It might still be technically summer but the Mount Vernon News and the Heritage Centre Association are ready to ring in the holiday cheer with a change in the annual Christmas Parade and Christmas Walk.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Lynne Ricard, HCA’s downtown manager. “Last year I had a couple of people approach me and ask if we ever thought about combining the two events into one day. This just seems like the right year to do it.”
What makes 2010 the right year to change the parade from Saturday to Sunday? The Ohio State-Michigan football game scheduled for Nov. 27.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” said Corby Wise, HCA president, about merging the two Christmas events. “This gives us the perfect opportunity to make one really strong event out of two very successful events.”
The annual Christmas Walk will start on Sunday, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m. and go until 5 p.m., when participates will congregate on Public Square for the traditional singing of Christmas carols.
The parade, with the theme “Candy Canes and Christmas Carols” will start at 2:30 p.m. from the staging area at United Precast Inc.
“John Ellis was kind enough to let us stage the parade at UPI this year,” said Kay Culbertson, News publisher. “This is really going to give us the opportunity to utilize all of Main Street for the parade.”
The parade entries will move west on Howard Street, cross Gay Street to South Main Street where they will travel northbound to Public Square, circle clockwise, head east on East High Street and return to the staging area.
“People can come downtown and shop and watch the parade. Having a lot of things going on is always a good thing and we are planning just that,” Wise said.
The HCA is in the midst of planning exciting additions to the Christmas Walk schedule that will incorporate traditional shopping with the parade and everyone’s personal memories of Christmas for an exceptional family experience in downtown Mount Vernon.
“We really want to get back to the traditional, old-fashioned feeling of Christmas,” Wise said.
Those wishing to participate in the parade are encouraged to start dreaming up ideas for entries. High school marching bands are also encouraged to participate.
Details of the 2010 Christmas Walk will be published in the News when confirmed.