Mount Olive looking for grand marshal
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 15, 2017 5:50 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Christmas Parade is returning to the downtown area after an absence of several years.
"There have been numerous discussions in our community about getting people back to our downtown and this is one way that we can do that," said Julie Beck, president of the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce.
The parade route will start on Talton Avenue, turn left (south) on Breazeale Avenue, turn left (east) on College Street and right (south) on Center Street. The parade route will end at the parking lot behind the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce and where the historic Mount Olive Depot is located. The parking lot can be accessed from John Street or Main Street.
The parade, sponsored by the Chamber, will step off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.
It will begin with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office's Honor Guard and end with Santa Claus.
To get to the parade lineup location, take U.S. 117 Alternate North past McDonald's, turn right onto Northeast Church Road, right onto Old Mount Olive Highway and then right onto Talton Avenue.
Talton Avenue will be a one-way street from 9 to 11 a.m. for safety reasons and participants must enter Talton Avenue off of the Old Mount Olive Highway.
Bands will line up on the road behind Advanced Auto/Popes. Commercial floats and the Shriners Sudan Mini-Rigs will line up at the east end of Roses' parking near Roses.
All other participants should follow the above-mentioned directions to get to the parade lineup.
For the fourth consecutive 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
* resides in Mount Olive or the surrounding area.
Applications and parade entry applications are available at the Mount Olive Chamber office, 123 N. Center St.; Kommunikate Plus, 114 N. Center St., Mount Olive Chamber website, www.moachamber.com; the Chamber Facebook page; or by emailing president@mountolive chamber.com.
The deadline to submit applications is Nov. 17.
The parade entry fees are as follows:
* Vehicle/homemade float/dune buggy: Nonprofit, $35; commercial, $55.
* Motorcycles/ATVs/golf carts/bicycles: Nonprofit, $15 per vehicle; nonprofit group, $80 (maximum of 10 vehicles); commercial, $20 per vehicle.
* Horse group/non-motorized group: One horse, $15; group, $40 (maximum of five horses, then an additional $5 fee per horse).
* Walking groups: $50 per group.
* Emergency vehicles/ elected officials/Partners in Education/marching bands: No charge.
Entries received after Nov. 17 will be charged a $30 late fee.
Ten people will have an opportunity to ride in the Pickle Train during the parade.
Anyone interested in riding in the Pickle Train should contact Tony Martin, president of Friends of the Parks, at 919-273-1057.
Friends of the Parks will charge $10 per person to ride in the parade, maximum of 10 people on a first-come, first-served basis. The proceeds will be used for projects at Nelson Street and Westbrook parks.
Prior to the parade, the Chamber will host a pancake breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes and Fries.
Santa Claus will make an appearance at the pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
For $6, a person will receive three pancakes, two pieces of sausage, two pieces of bacon and a drink. Orders can be placed by calling 919-738-0211.
Pancake orders can be delivered to the parade lineup or people can purchase ham and sausage biscuits, doughnuts and orange juice from members of the Mount Olive Christmas Parade committee who will be roaming the parade lineup on a golf cart.