There is still time to join the holiday march
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on November 12, 2013 1:46 PM
With relatively few entries so far in the Goldsboro Christmas Parade, organizers have pushed the deadline for entering the parade until Nov. 19.
The original deadline for entering the parade without a late fee was today.
But the Young Professionals, a branch of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, which has taken over the operation of the parade from the Jaycees, had received only 38 submissions as of Monday afternoon.
The parade normally has more than 100 floats.
Chamber President Kate Daniels said she believes the lack of entries is due to the change in organizations running the event and public confusion caused by the cancellation of several other parades in the county.
The parades have been canceled due to new Department of Transportation policies requiring a minimum $1 million per injury liability insurance policy and a 90-day advance notice.
"The parade is not affected by (the change,)" Mrs. Daniels said. "I think it's that people don't know where to go."
The Jaycees handed the reins over to the Young Professionals to plan the Christmas parade for the first time this year.
"We couldn't even find when the Jaycees started doing the parade it's been so long," Mrs. Daniels said. "People aren't used to doing it through the chamber."
The chamber wants people to know that while the leadership has changed, the parade will still be the same march everyone is used to.
"It's always been wonderful and magical, and it still will be," Mrs. Daniels said. "We really want people to know that they can sign up online, too."
Mrs. Daniels said that the only change in the parade from years past is who is pulling the strings.
"It's always been the first Saturday in December," Mrs. Daniels said. "It's always been at 4 p.m., and it will be this year."
This year's theme is a story book Christmas.
"It can be your favorite Christmas story," chamber Director of Marketing and Events Lara Landers said. "Everybody has a favorite."
For her, it's Christmas movies with her children.
"Every year I make homemade hot chocolate and crawl up in my bed with my kids and watch a Christmas movie," she said. "It doesn't matter how old they are and it's not the same movie, or sometimes it is, but it's what we do."
Information on the Christmas parade can be found on the chamber website at www.waynecountychamber.com under the community information section.
After Nov. 19, late fees will be added every week leading up to the parade starting at $25 and rising to $50 on Dec. 1.
Registration forms can also be picked up from the chamber building on William Street.