Parkstown parade to return Dec. 14
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on November 26, 2006 2:00 AM
From staff reports
A former Wayne County holiday tradition will return this year with the Parkstown Christmas Parade scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14.
Thirty years after the last parade was held, organizers said they hope to bring back the event that was once billed as "the biggest little Christmas parade in the world."
Parkstown, a community on the northern edge of Goldsboro, held its first Christmas parade in 1951. Leaders of the tight-knit community decided that the big city of Goldsboro wasn't the only place where kids could line the roads, watch the bands and floats and get a glimpse of Santa Claus, so they came up with their own version.
And it grew beyond their expectations, with as many as 5,000 people turning out for the annual event.
Eventually, interest in the parade died away and the last one was held in 1968. Still, about 3,000 people turned out for the final one.
Now, the children of the residents who formed the original parade say they want to bring that hometown holliday atmosphere back for their children. Organizers have been hard at work for months, preparing for the show.
Churches have been invited to enter floats, along with marching bands, Scout troops and packs, and any other organization that wants to strut their stuff. Nearly a half-dozen bands have already committed to appear, along with the usual array of politicians and other dignitaries.
The parade will start on Jesse Jackson Road and run to Rosa Lane, crossing Parkstown Road along the way. It will start at 4 p.m.
A Little Miss Parkstown and Miss Parkstown competitions also will be held.
Anyone interested in participating in the parade should contact Shirley Perry at 778-0958 or visit www.jpcf.org.