Holiday season arrives on floats
By Catharin Shepard
Published in News on November 19, 2009 1:46 PM
Glitter, garlands, music and mirth will roll down Wayne County streets over the next few week to usher in the Christmas season.
From Fremont to Mount Olive and all points in between, cities and towns in the area are making final preparations for the holiday parades that are quickly approaching.
The earliest parade in the county is the Seven Springs Christmas Parade that will be held on Saturday, starting at 3 p.m. It is almost always the first parade in the county and planners saw to it that the county's oldest town again will take the lead in ringing in the holidays.
The Beautancus parade in northern Duplin County is held every year at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the crossroads community. Participants should line up on Beautancus Road by 2:30 p.m. There is no entry fee for the "come-as-you-are" event and anyone is welcome to join in. The parade route runs from Beautancus Road along Luby Byrd Road.
The town of LaGrange will hold its Christmas parade on Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. Call the LaGrange Town Hall at (252) 566-3186 for more information.
The Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its town's Christmas parade, which will be held on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. Line-up for the parade begins at 9 a.m. Parking is available along the parade route. There is an entry fee for participants, but the amount depends on the type of entry. Call the town Chamber of Commerce at 658-3113 for more information or to sign up.
Fremont will holds its holiday parade Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. Line-up begins at 11 a.m. on North Vance Street. Parking is available along Goldsboro Street and near the railroad tracks. There is a $25 entrance fee that will go toward supporting Boy Scout Troop 12. For more information about entry, call Kevin Smith at 242-4573.
The Princeton parade will be held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5. For information, call the Princeton Town Hall, (919) 936-8171.
The Goldsboro Jaycees' annual Christmas parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m., starting at its usual spot on Center Street. This year's theme is "Rocking Around the Christmas Trees." Nov. 28 is the final deadline for all entries. The late registration fee is $35. Entry forms and guidelines are available at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce on William Street.
The town of Faison will hold its annual parade on Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. There is no entry fee, but participants must call the town hall at (910) 267-2721 to sign up by Dec. 4. Parking will be available at the park, at Piggly-Wiggly and along the streets near the parade route. The parade will proceed from the city limit sign and travel down Main Street.
The Pikeville Christmas parade will be held Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. Parking for attendees will be available along Railroad Street. Line up for the parade begins at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call the Pikeville Town Hall at 242-5126.
The Parkstown Christmas parade will be held Dec. 10 at 3:45 p.m. This year the "Biggest Little Parade in the World," otherwise known as the Parkstown Christmas Parade," will be held Thursday, Dec. 10, at 3:45 p.m. at the rural crossroads in eastern Wayne County. After a 30-year hiatus, this year marks the fourth parade since its rebirth. School children will be provided free snacks and a fireworks display will be held immediately after sundown. Linwood Earl Rowe will serve as honorary marshal. For more information or entry forms, call Shirley Perry at (919) 778-0958 or Shelby Reeder at (336) 275-0641.
The town of Eureka will celebrate Christmas with a parade on Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. Participants are asked to line up at 2 p.m. on the Davis Street extension. Large vehicles should drop off passengers and park at the cemetery on East Main Street.