Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Thursday Parade Will Begin Area Holiday Events

For those waiting until the last minute to enter the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade IT'S HERE!

In fact, those not entering today will be out of luck, as the parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday. [Note: In the print edition of the Picayune, the date is printed as Friday; however Thursday is the correct day.]

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, said time is definitely running out to enter a float.

She added there will only be one Santa allowed on floats and he will be on the Chamber's grand finale' float.

Any other float with a Santa on it will not be judged in the parade.

In addition, registration for the parade is set for 3:30 p.m., with line up slated at 4:45 while judging will be done at 5 o'clock.

The parade will kick off at 6 p.m., following the traditional route to the Nevada County Courthouse where Christmas on the Square will begin.

Friday will be a busy night all the way around with the parade, Christmas on the Square and the Prescott Lions Club auction underway.

This year's Lions Club auction will start at 6:30 p.m. in the courtroom at the courthouse.

Once the parade has ended Christmas on the Squar begins. Then, the winners of the home decorating contest will be announced as will the winner of the business decorating tilt.

Six acts have been scheduled to perform on the courthouse steps. They include: the Prescott High School band, Russ Carlton, the Nevada County Day Service Center Pre-school, the Presbyterian Pre-school, the fourth grade "I Love Music Club" and the Prescott Head Start.

There will also be food vendors on hand. Morris Baptist Church will offer baked goods, while Maxine's Diner will feature barbecue. The PHS Future Homemakers of America Club will offer hot spiced cider and hot chocolate, while the Lions Club will have an assortment of goodies available.

While there the youngsters can visit with Santa Claus, letting him know what they want for Christmas, and have their photo taken with him and Mrs. Claus. The photos will cost $2 each.

The finale' of Christmas on the Square will be the "Snowball Avalanche," where some 1,200 ping pong balls are dropped into the crowd.

These ping pong balls are special as all will be marked with discounts to local merchants. They can only be redeemed locally and must be turned in before Christmas.

There will be three special balls as well, with the Chamber offering gift certificates for $75, $50 and $25 to the lucky people who find these ping pong balls.

Additionally, Godwin said, there will be four people tossing the balls this year.

The Christmas festivities don't end there. On Saturday, Dec. 11, the Chamber will sponsor its first Breakfast with Santa at the First Baptist Church.

The breakfast will be held from 8-10 a.m. and is for children through the fifth grade.

The meal is free and there will be many activities planned.

Again, children can get their picture taken with everybody's favorite jolly old elf for $2.

Admission to the breakfast is one canned food item. These "tickets" will be collected and given to a locally needy family.