(Dec. 4, 2014) The 44th annual Berlin Christmas Parade is coming to town tonight (Thursday), bringing dozens of floats to pack the streets with cool, festive cheer.
Dubbed “The Coolest Christmas Parade in America,” the event quickly filled to capacity, with 85 entries sponsored by businesses, individuals and school, nonprofit and youth groups.
Organizer JoAnn Unger credited the town’s Budget Travel designation with the increase in interest.
“I believe [that] may be a reason groups contacted us so early to make sure they were part of the ‘Coolest’ parade,” she said. “We were very happy to see the parade fill up so quickly, and we have several new entries this year.”
Mayor Gee Williams said the parade, “was cool before everything else. It’s all about having families and especially children coming out and doing something bright and festive,” he said.
Although the first parade was held during the day, Williams said the switch to an evening parade, “hit all the right buttons.”
“The turnout has steadily increased over the years and I wouldn’t be surprised if we had more people than ever this year,” he said.
The town will award trophies for first, second and third place immediately following the parade in the following categories: adult, student and school-sponsored floats, adult and youth marching, performing youth, and vehicle clubs, motorcycles and antique cars.
Williams said the parade, which begins at 7 p.m., is primarily “for the children.”
“That’s why we do it at night and we limit the entries to 85, because experience has shown that we can guarantee the parents, grandparents and so forth that the parade will be over by 9 o’clock,” he said. “That encourages them to bring the little kids out and they’ll get home at a reasonable time and be able to get to school or daycare the next morning.”
The parade will begin in front of the Calvin B. Taylor House museum on Main Street and run through the downtown area, ending at the Buckingham Presbyterian Church.
A shuttle service, provided by Hooper’s Crab House and the Casino at Ocean Downs, will run from Berlin Intermediate School on 309 Franklin Avenue to the corner of Main and Williams streets. The shuttle will operate from 5:45-7:15 p.m. and from 8:45-9:30 p.m. Space is limited.
Williams said the atmosphere in Berlin during the holidays is often correctly compared to a Norman Rockwell painting.
“We try to hold it in a very traditional way, but with all the whistles and bells,” he said. “The most important thing for us is that everyone leaves Berlin with the spirit of Christmas, regardless of their religious affiliation, and just start feeling good about themselves and life and the future. My sense is that there’s a lot of people that need that, more than ever this year.”
The rain date for the parade is Thursday, Dec. 13. For more information contact Berlin Main Street, parade sponsor, at 410-973-2051 or www.berlinmainstreet.com.
Dubbed “The Coolest Christmas Parade in America,” the event quickly filled to capacity, with 85 entries sponsored by businesses, individuals and school, nonprofit and youth groups.
Organizer JoAnn Unger credited the town’s Budget Travel designation with the increase in interest.
“I believe [that] may be a reason groups contacted us so early to make sure they were part of the ‘Coolest’ parade,” she said. “We were very happy to see the parade fill up so quickly, and we have several new entries this year.”
Mayor Gee Williams said the parade, “was cool before everything else. It’s all about having families and especially children coming out and doing something bright and festive,” he said.
Although the first parade was held during the day, Williams said the switch to an evening parade, “hit all the right buttons.”
“The turnout has steadily increased over the years and I wouldn’t be surprised if we had more people than ever this year,” he said.
The town will award trophies for first, second and third place immediately following the parade in the following categories: adult, student and school-sponsored floats, adult and youth marching, performing youth, and vehicle clubs, motorcycles and antique cars.
Williams said the parade, which begins at 7 p.m., is primarily “for the children.”
“That’s why we do it at night and we limit the entries to 85, because experience has shown that we can guarantee the parents, grandparents and so forth that the parade will be over by 9 o’clock,” he said. “That encourages them to bring the little kids out and they’ll get home at a reasonable time and be able to get to school or daycare the next morning.”
The parade will begin in front of the Calvin B. Taylor House museum on Main Street and run through the downtown area, ending at the Buckingham Presbyterian Church.
A shuttle service, provided by Hooper’s Crab House and the Casino at Ocean Downs, will run from Berlin Intermediate School on 309 Franklin Avenue to the corner of Main and Williams streets. The shuttle will operate from 5:45-7:15 p.m. and from 8:45-9:30 p.m. Space is limited.
Williams said the atmosphere in Berlin during the holidays is often correctly compared to a Norman Rockwell painting.
“We try to hold it in a very traditional way, but with all the whistles and bells,” he said. “The most important thing for us is that everyone leaves Berlin with the spirit of Christmas, regardless of their religious affiliation, and just start feeling good about themselves and life and the future. My sense is that there’s a lot of people that need that, more than ever this year.”
The rain date for the parade is Thursday, Dec. 13. For more information contact Berlin Main Street, parade sponsor, at 410-973-2051 or www.berlinmainstreet.com.