Santa to travel new route through Mount Olive
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 5, 2016 12:14 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- A change is in store for this year's Mount Olive Christmas Parade that will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Instead of lining up along Henderson Street, the parade will line up on Talton Avenue located between Advanced Auto and Auto Zone.
"The parade line-up location change resulted from a request from the University of Mount Olive," said Julie Beck, president of the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce that sponsors the parade. "As UMO has grown and more students are residing on campus and more activities are occurring, shutting down Henderson Street for a few hours is not a viable option. As a result, we will use Talton Avenue."
Parade entries will be directed to Northeast Church Road north of town and then onto the Old Mount Olive Highway south to Talton Avenue.
From Talton Avenue the parade will turn left (south) on Breazeale Avenue. However, Ms. Beck said she and police Chief Tommy Brown are still working on the route.
Parade applications and grand marshal nomination forms are now available at the Chamber office, 123 N. Center St., or by sending an email to admin@mountolivechamber.com.
The deadline to submit applications and nomination forms is Friday, Nov. 18.
For the third year, the Chamber will allow Mount Olive citizens to nominate a grand marshal for the annual Christmas parade.
A committee comprised of Chamber board members and Mount Olive citizens will select the grand marshal based on the nominations.
Nominees should be a person or group that volunteers and gives back to the community; deserves credit for good deeds completed, but doesn't always receive recognition; is an inspiration toward making the community a better place to live, work and play; and resides in Mount Olive or the surrounding area.
The grand marshal will ride in the Mount Olive Christmas Parade.
It will begin with the Sheriff's Office Honor Guard and end with special guest, Santa Claus.
Parade entry applications received after Nov. 18 will charged a $30 late fee. The entry fees are as follows:
•Vehicle/homemade float/
dune buggy: Non-profit, $30; commercial, $50.
•Motorcycles/ATVs/golf carts/bicycles: Non-profit, $10 per vehicle; non-profit group, $75 (maximum of 10 vehicles); commercial, $15 per vehicle.
•Horse group/non-motorized group: One horse, $10; group, $35 (maximum of five horses, then an additional $5 per horse).
•Walking groups: $10 per group.
•Emergency vehicles/elected officials/Partners in Education/marching bands: No charge.
Prior to the parade, the Chamber will have a pancake breakfast at the Mount Olive Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes and Fries from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
For $6, a person will receive three pancakes, two pieces of sausage, two pieces of bacon and a drink. To-go-orders can be placed by calling 919-658-3113. Orders can also be delivered to the parade line-up, if you are in the parade.
On Friday, Dec. 2, the Chamber and town of Mount Olive will host the Christmas Open House sponsored by Mount Olive Family Medicine Center.
At 6 p.m., members of Mrs. Robin's Academy of Dance and Gymnastics will perform a Christmas routine in front of Mount Olive Town Hall.
Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. and Ms. Beck will issue Christmas greetings before McDonald hits the switch to light up the town radio tower. Immediately following the tower lighting, the crowd will be invited walk to the Chamber office.
The Open House will continue in downtown Mount Olive where the Chamber will offer crafts, letter writing to Santa Claus and a visit by Saint Nick himself.
At the open house, children ages 12 and younger will be able to sign up to be the junior grand marshal. One name will be drawn and that child will ride with Santa Claus in the Christmas parade.
The First United Methodist Church will once again give participants an opportunity to decorate Christmas cookies. There is no charge for cooking decorating.
The David John Aaron Historical Museum will also be open from 6 to 8 p.m. and offer children an opportunity to do an old-timey craft.
For more information about the Mount Olive Christmas activities, contact Ms. Beck at
919-658-3113 or via email at president@mountolivechamber.com.