Goldsboro, Mount Olive parades on tap
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on November 23, 2013 10:53 PM
The Goldsboro Christmas Parade, led by the Young Professionals for the first time this year, is back on track following slow registration earlier this month.
As of Friday morning, 95 floats were entered into the Dec. 7 parade
The chamber extended the deadline penalty free registration by a week until Nov. 19 to accept more registrations amid the confusion about the shift in leadership.
The Young Professionals, a branch of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, took over the parade from the Jaycees after more than 50 years.
Chamber Executive Director Kate Daniels said she believes the low numbers came from confusion about other parades in the county being canceled and registration shifting to the Young Professionals.
The cancellations of the Eureka, Parkstown and the Cherry/O'Berry parades came following a new Department of Transportation rule placing liability on the community for injuries on DOT maintained streets.
"We appreciate the community support and the YP's are looking forward to it," Director of Marketing and Events Lara Landers said.
This year's parade theme is "A Story Book Christmas."
Floats can be modeled after a favorite Christmas book, movie or even song, but only one Santa will be allowed in the parade.
"We keep saying that everybody who comes out will not see a difference," Mrs. Daniels said. "We keep saying the tradition continues and it does."
The chamber is accepting parade registrations at the chamber building on William Street until Dec. 1.
A $35 late fee will be assessed until Nov. 29 and then only the first 10 entries after Dec. 1 will be allowed into the parade and will be charged a $50 late fee.
The Mount Olive Christmas Parade will kick off Saturday Dec. 7 at 10 a.m., followed by Goldsboro's at 3 p.m., with Pikeville's finishing out the Yule marches Dec. 15 beginning at 3 p.m.