For about a decade, Mooresville Convention and Visitors Bureau Chairman Ron Johnson has been at the helm in planning the town’s annual Christmas parade. And each year brings its own set of challenges that must be tackled before the yearly event makes its way down Main Street.
Now in its 66th year, planning for this year’s Mooresville Christmas Parade – to be held Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m. – has recently begun for the event that just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
“Every year is different, and it’s never easy,” said Johnson, mentioning that planning for the two-hour parade takes several months to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. “Honestly, people start calling the day after the parade for the next year.”
Although excitement for the event starts to stir only hours after Santa Claus makes his way down Main Street, official planning typically waits until summertime when registration deadlines are announced. In years past, the first day of registration was July 1, but Johnson said the Convention and Visitors Bureau waited a few extra weeks this year, starting registration last week.
With a parade featuring everything from high school marching bands to boy scouts, non-profit agencies and area businesses, those wishing to become part of this year’s celebration have until Oct. 25 – or the 130-unit cap, whichever comes first – to register. Johnson advises those interested to contact him as soon as possible, mentioning that upwards of 50 registration requests are turned away each year once the unit goal has been fulfilled.
For non-profit groups and organizations – such as scouting troops, area school districts, etc. – registration for the parade is free. Businesses and commercial agencies, including local neighborhoods and subdivisions, must pay a $50 entrance fee. Those monies, said Johnson, allow the parade to occur each year.
“We do need commercial support,” he said. “Whatever we take in, it goes out.”
Extensive event planning occurs once registration closes in late October, Johnson added. After placing each unit in a particular order for their march through downtown, notifications are mailed in early November so each organization has ample time to prepare for their particular spot in line.
With only two hours of time to usher approximately 4,000 parade participants down Mooresville streets, those last few weeks leading up to the annual celebration are surely some of the busiest for Johnson and his committee.
Hosting a parade that has remained as “hometown” as possible for more than 60 years isn’t easy, noted Johnson, but it’s well worth the effort to make sure generations of families can share similar event memories.
“This parade hasn’t changed in 60-some years,” he said. “There’s lots of children involved, neighborhoods involved. It’s a community parade. People come here and see this and say, ‘I remember this type of parade when I was a kid.’”
Between 12,000 and 15,000 people attended last year’s parade, Johnson said, noting that it’s the event’s “local flavor” that allows attendance to grow each year. Weather, he added, also plays a big role and officials are already crossing their fingers for a beautiful, sunny day.
For more information or to register, contact Johnson at 704-662-8210.
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