'Tis the season
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 23, 2014 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helpers wave to the crowd at Saturday's Seven Springs Christmas Parade. Several parades are on tap as the holiday season continues to unfold in Wayne County.
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
A little girl covers her ears as loud participants make their way along the route.
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Children hustle to pick up candy after it is thrown from one of the floats.
The Christmas parade season got under way in Seven Spring on Saturday and over the next two weeks it will be followed by six more.
The weekend of Dec. 6 and 7 will be busy with parades in Mount Olive, Goldsboro, Fremont, Pikeville and Princeton.
Eureka will close out the local parade season on Dec. 14.
GOLDSBORO
The event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Goldsboro, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. in downtown Goldsboro.
Because the Streetscape project is still under way in that area, the parade route has been changed slightly, Chamber Marketing Director Lara Landers said.
It will originate and end at Cornerstone Commons, travel down Center Street past city hall and turn around at the median area by the circle at Ash Street and continue down Mulberry to John Street.
This year's theme is "A White Christmas."
Entries include floats, vehicles, performing groups including school bands, ROTC, twirling groups and dancers.
For more information, call 919-734-2241. To pre-order DVDs of the 2014 Christmas parade for $15 each, go online to waynecountychamber.com.
MOUNT OLIVE
The Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the town, will hold its annual holiday open house and parade during the weekend of Dec. 5-6.
On Dec. 5 an open house will be held in downtown from 6 until 8 p.m. Chamber President Julie Beck and Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. will welcome the crowd and extend holiday greetings before McDonald flips the switch to light up the radio tower.
Those who attend the open house are encouraged to bring items to donate to the All the King's Children's Foundation and to help fill three 4-foot-long Christmas stockings. The chamber has partnered with non-profit All the King's Children to collect pajamas, socks, underwear, undershirts and other items. All sizes, including adult sizes, are needed.
Santa Claus will make an appearance on Center Street where children can write letters to, and visit with him. Refreshments will be available, hay rides will be offered and the downtown merchants will be open for shopping. In addition, the David John Aaron Historical Museum will be open, and activities will be offered there as well. Children ages 12 and younger who attend the open house can register for a chance to be chosen as the junior grand marshal.
The winner will be chosen at 7:30 p.m. and will ride with Santa Claus in the parade on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The parade, with a theme of "Around the World," will start at 10 a.m. on Dec. 6. The parade lineup begins at 9 a.m. on Henderson Street near Piggly Wiggly. The route will follow Breazeale Avenue south to Pollock Street where it will turn left. It will travel two blocks before turning left on the east side of Center Street. It will follow Center Street north to the Mount Olive Fire Station where the parade will disband.
For more information, contact the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce at 919-658-3113.
FREMONT
The Fremont parade, held rain or shine, will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. It is sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 12.
The parade route will follow Main, Goldsboro and South streets.
"It is really pretty much just show up and you will be in parade," said organizer Keith Stewart.
There is a $25 registration fee for businesses, but it is free for schools, churches and civic groups.
For more information, call Stewart at 919-242-4573.
PRINCETON
The Princeton parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m.
Lineup will be at noon in the front parking lot of Princeton High School. If it rains, the parade will be rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. with the lineup being at 2 p.m.
There will be no tree lighting ceremony this year.
For more information, contact Vicky Edwards, 919-306-7108, or April Williamson, 919-320-6756.
PIKEVILLE
The Pikeville parade will be held Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. The lineup will be at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph United Methodist Church at the corner of South Church and North Mills Street.
The route remains unchanged from last year. There is no charge to enter.
"If they show up we will get them in there," organizer Johnny Weaver said.
EUREKA
The Eureka parade will be held Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m.
The lineup will begin at 2 p.m. on Davis Street.