The 76th annual Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will be held Monday, Dec. 1, and the 15th annual Pevely-Herculaneum Christmas Parade is set for Dec. 4, but those who want to enter either parade need to let organizers know by Nov. 24, organizers said.
The chamber parade in Festus-Crystal City starts rolling at 7 p.m., with lineup at 6 p.m. at North Taylor and Bailey roads in Crystal City. The Pevely-Herculaneum parade starts at 7 p.m. three days later, with lineup starting at 5 p.m. at William C. Haggard Park in Herculaneum.
Twin City parade
The event, which always takes place on the first Monday after Thanksgiving, will proceed through downtown Crystal City and Festus. This year’s theme is “Christmas in Toyland.”
“There is no cost to be in the parade,” said Mary Zebrowski, the chamber co-director.
To register or for more information, go to the chamber website at twincitychamber.com.
Zebrowski said dozens of groups take part in the parade each year.
“I want to say we had over 125 participants in the parade last year,” she said. “That includes floats, decorated Jeeps and trucks and cars, marching bands. We get lots of trailers that have sports and other groups on them. The Shriners will be there in their little cars. We’ll have some horses. Santa Claus will bring up the end of the parade. We hope Santa will bring Mrs. Claus this year. The Festus Knights of Columbus clowns will hand out candy for the Chamber of Commerce. We’ll make 3,500 bags of candy again.
“It’s just the usual fun.”
Zebrowski expects hordes of spectators to line the parade route once again.
“It draws hundreds of spectators,” she said. “The parade travels west on Bailey Road, which becomes Main Street in Festus, and finishes more or less in front of the Festus Public Library (400 W. Main St.).”
The chamber’s other co-director, Denise Kist, said that organizers and parade participants look forward to the annual event.
“We enjoy putting this on for the community,” Kist said. “It’s a kickoff to the Christmas season.”
Zebrowski said it’s a tradition for many families to line up along the parade route to watch it pass by.
“We see grandparents brings their grandchildren,” she said. “We see whole families come down.”
Pevely-Herculaneum parade
The Pevely-Herculaneum parade will cover its usual route, said Linda Miles, a parade organizer from Pevely. The theme is “Hometown Christmas.”
“The parade route will follow Joachim Avenue north to Commercial Boulevard (Hwy. 61-67) turning right onto Commercial Boulevard, turning left onto Lions Drive, right onto Old State Road to Pevely Main Street ending at the corner of Joachim and Main Street in Pevely,” said Miles, the Pevely deputy city clerk.
Both Pevely and Herculaneum choose grand marshals for the parade. Pevely had not chosen its grand marshal as of Nov. 17, Miles said.
Jim Kasten, Herculaneum’s former city administrator, will represent his city as its grand marshal, said Candace Siebert, the Herculaneum parks superintendent who also is serving as a parade organizer.
Siebert said that while she is new to helping with the parade, she has learned it is a much-anticipated event in the cities.
“We expect dozens of participants – marching bands, floats, cars and trucks, other groups,” she said. “The parade has become a tradition for many families.”
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will participate, Miles said, adding that the parade is a great start to the Christmas season.
“We’re hoping for a great crowd this year – the parade is something people love and look forward to,” she said. “It’s a bright, joyful tradition that kicks off the holiday season and brings our community together.
To register to participate in the parade or for more information, call Pevely City Hall at 636-475-4452 or visit the Pevely city page on Facebook or send emails to csiebert@cityofherculaneum.gov.