Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Parade Is December 10

It's Christmas in Gurdon with the local Chamber of Commerce announcing plans for the annual Christmas parade.

This year's parade will be held Friday, Dec. 10, with prizes planned for the winning entries.

Tambra Smith, chairman of the parade, said those planning to enter need to do so quickly as the deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 7.

There will be four divisions, with those involved getting the choice of being judged or not. The categories are for floats, vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and bicycles and other.

Entry in the parade is free.

Those taking part will need to line up at the old Gurdon High School at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 10, with the parade kicking off at 5:30 p.m.

The route will be the same as the one used at the Forest Festival in October.

All organizations are encouraged to light their entries using generators or battery packs, as it will be heavy dusk by the time the floats hit the downtown area.

Drawings will be held for three gift certificate with one for $100 and two for $50. However, these certificates are only redeemable at Gurdon Chamber member merchants.

A Christmas program will be held on the bandstand downtown in front of First State Bank at 4:30 p.m. with Jerry Don Childers's first grade class singing carols and the Christian Ensemble set to perform as well.

Also at this time, the announcements for the drawings will be made, with the parade kicking off immediately afterwards.

Smith said the prize payouts will be to the top five in the float division, and first through third for decorated vehicles. The ATV/bicycle category will have two places.

Something different this year will be first and second place awards for the best decorated Chamber business.

These entries, Smith said, will be judged on the basis of overall appearance, creativity and theme.

Sponsors are also being sought for the parade. There are three levels of sponsorship: $100 for a full sponsorship; a $50 sponsorship; and $25 for support sponsorship.

The sponsor participation will provide prize money for the parade entry winners, business advertisement, gift certificates and the sponsors will be recognized during the program.

Those wanting to be a sponsor can make their checks payable to the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Tambra Smith, P.O. Box 246, Gurdon, AR 71743, or by calling Smith at 353- 2541 or 353-2514.

"Last year's parade was the biggest and most successful one we've had in years," Smith said, "and we'd like to keep the momentum going."

She encourages churches, businesses, schools and civic organizations to get involved in the Christmas parade in any way possible, including volunteering to help out with the decorating of downtown.