With holiday season schedules filling up, the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce wants to be sure you set an evening aside for the third annual Heart of Clarkston Lighted Holiday Parade.
The parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 13.
“Many community groups and organizations have signed up to participate in the parade. There will be lots of lighted floats and vehicles, horses, carolers, festive music and, of course, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus to Clarkston,” Chamber Event enthusiast/planner Terri Bendes said. “So, bundle up the family and bring them to downtown on the evening of Dec. 13 to make some wonderful new holiday memories.”
The idea for the parade evolved from focus groups put on by the Chamber. They were looking for the role the Chamber could play in enhancing the community and the holiday parade idea was born.
“The role of the parade is to help bring the community together. With the holiday season being a busy time we felt a parade would be a great way to do that,” Chamber Executive Director Penny Shanks said.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and follow the traditional parade route down Church Street onto Main Street, through the heart of downtown Clarkston and will end at Miller Road.
In past years, the parade has centered around charitable giving. While Shanks said there still will be a focus on charitable giving, this year’s parade theme is “Fantasy of Lights.”
“We focus on the things that make this a hometown because it does not happen by accident. We are a hometown because the participation of everyone in the community,” Shanks said.
They are expecting approximately 4,000 people coming downtown to watch the parade. The holiday parade is the only lighted parade in Clarkston and the most float intensive parade.
The Chamber has heard from 32 businesses or organizations wishing to be a part of the parade and are expecting that number to reach 45. The Chamber hands out awards for floats in four categories with a cash reward.
“The timing is real good for a lot of people to participate,” Shanks said.
In only its third year, Shanks said the holiday parade has already become a Clarkston staple.
“I got calls as early as August asking what the date of the parade was. People were planning their schedule and wanted to be part of the parade. There is a lot of interest,” Shanks said.
Downtown businesses are planning on extending their hours on Dec. 13. The Chamber has hired a disc jockey to play Christmas music from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. before the parade.
“It is a great opportunity to visit some of our downtown businesses while you are waiting for the parade to start,” Shanks said. “People spend a lot of time looking for that special gift when it could be found right here in downtown Clarkston.”