LIVERPOOL – Although Christmas is still 10 months away, it’s never to early to start planning ahead.
The Liverpool Fire Department Christmas parade committee has just released its plans for the ninth annual event this Nov. 25.
The parade will start at Queens Place, travel across Bristol Avenue, through the parking lot, across Henry Hensey Drive, but instead of stopping in front of the Liverpool Fire Hall as usual, it continues up Main Street, where it will break up at Court Street, says parade co-chairwoman Terrena Parnell.
Santa and his sleigh will continue on to the Queens County Museum, where everyone is invited to watch the Liverpool Community Christmas Tree lighting, listen to drummers from the Native Council of Nova Scotia, as well as have hot dogs and hot chocolate while the children visit with Santa.
While at the museum, spectators can also peruse the Ole Town Mercantile and enjoy the beauty of the Dickins Village and Festival of Trees, displayed at the Queens County Museum every year.
There will be workshops for children, put on by the museum, where kids can decorate their own ornament that will be displayed on the community Christmas tree. The presentation of awards for parade participants will also happen at the museum, adds Parnell.
Normally, Parnell says, the volunteers don’t start to plan the Christmas parade until August or September, but the committee was approached by the museum to see if it could be involved, so planning started earlier.
This is not the first year changes have been made to the parade route.
“Originally, it travelled up Main Street and ended at the front of the town hall on the night of the tree lighting, then eventually, it started ending at the fire hall,” says Parnell.
After comments from people over the past three years about the parade route, Parnell says the organizing committee decided it would be a good idea to once again extend the parade up Main Street. The change in route allows everyone from away who can't get home, or for those who aren't able to get out to see the parade, to watch it live streamed on the QCCR webcam.
“Once we decided to extend the parade, it was determined it would be a logistical nightmare to try to get Santa back to the fire hall to meet with the children,” says Parnell.
The museum is a direct line from the end of the parade, thus it made sense to partner.
Parnell says most of the reaction has been positive, with residents loving the idea that the parade incorporates the use of the webcam.
The parade keeps growing every year, Parnell adds.
“We have anywhere from 50 to 75 participants yearly,” says Parnell. “A lot of them are regulars but this past year we have seen a few new businesses enter as well.”
Anyone that wants to take part in entering the parade is more than welcome, whether it be a float, walkers handing out candy or a band. The more participants the merrier, says Parnell. Sign up will be in late August or September.
Go online: Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/groups/925691694178237/
