One of Copperhill and McCaysville’s most time honored traditions will have a new twist this year when the Copperhill Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade follows a new route.
McCaysville Program and Event Manager Michael Earley said the start of the parade has been moved to the area of the McCaysville city park.
Floats and other parade entries will assemble in the large parking lot across from the park and adjacent to East Tennessee Avenue. This means that lot will not be available for parking on parade day, Earley said.
The parade will then line up along East Tennessee Avenue. When it starts, the parade will head west toward Blue Ridge Drive (Highway 5) and turn right to cross the Toccoa River. At this point, the parade is on the same route as always. It will cross the river on the William T. “Boss” Mull Memorial Bridge, then turn left (north) at the three-way stop onto Ocoee Street through Copperhill.
It will end at the entrance to Copperhill Industries.
Earley said the change was made for both safety and to better accomodate the large number of expected entrants.
The previous start, at the Copperhill ball field on West Tennessee Avenue, was crowded and the street carries a lot of traffic, Earley said. The new site offers more overall room and less traffic.
The parade, with the theme of “Christmas Around the World,” is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 at 2 p.m.
Kiwanis Club parade spokesman Howard Jabaley said float entries will gather at noon.
Floats will be judged in three categories: best presentation of the theme, most original and best overall.
“The parade is open to any group, club or individual that wants to participate,” Jabaley said. “All entries must provide their own parade transportation for beauty queens and Scouts.”
Parade registration begins at 12:30 p.m., and judging will take place at 1 p.m. Trophies will be awarded prior to the start of the parade.
The parade will leave the park at 2 p.m.
The parade will include floats, local high school bands, church groups, car clubs, veterans groups, Scouts and other entries, he said.
Parade entries are reminded to not re-enter the parade route for safety reasons, until Santa reaches the end of the parade, Jabaley said.
In the event the parade is canceled due to weather, it will be rescheduled for the next weekend.
Call Jabaley at 706-455-0082 for more information.