The Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas parade, themed “The Joys of Christmas,” is set to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, following the downtown-oriented route it took up last year.
The parade will begin on the corner of Porter Wagoner Boulevard and Webster Avenue. It will travel down West Main Street, around Court Square and end at the intersection of East Main Street and St. Louis Street.
Lineup for parade participants and floats will begin after 1 p.m. at the corner of Pennsylvania and Webster Avenues, a block north of West Main Street. Volunteers will check participants in and distribute judging numbers. The lineup will travel along Webster Avenue toward Porter Wagoner Boulevard.
All parade entries must register to participate in advance, remind chamber officials — no walk-ups will be allowed. Specific lineup and safety instructions are given to entrants when they register at the chamber office, 401 Jefferson Ave.
Chamber officials note that since the lineup route will be blocked to regular traffic beginning at 1 p.m., parents delivering children to floats may drop them off in the rear parking lot of the West Plains Public Library. Parade volunteers will shuttle the children to floats on the parade route on vehicles courtesy of Mega Motorsports and Outpost Motorsports.
All drivers are asked to be aware of pedestrians in the area and travel cautiously.
Prizes will be awarded to winning float entries: Arlee Home Fashions Grand Prize, $350; AirMedCare Network First Place Commercial Prize, $300; Hirsch Feed & Farm Supply of West Plains Second Place Commercial Prize, $200; Brown Furniture & Appliance First Place Religious Prize, $300; Don’s Auto Service Second Place Religious Prize, $200; West Plains Optimist Club First Place Miscellaneous Prize, $300; and Community First Banking Company Second Place Miscellaneous Prize, $200.
Southern Bank, 37 North Realty and Ramona Heiney-State Farm Insurance will jointly sponsor travel expenses for all bands participating in this year’s parade.
This year’s Parade supporters also include Brill Title Company, Ozarks Coca-Cola, Simmons Bank, TNK Inc., Andy and Judy Ingalsbe, Penmac Staffing Services and Heart of the Ozarks Medical Equipment.
For more information, call the chamber office at 417-256-4433 or email info@wpchamber.com.
