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Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2017/11 - November | Photograph By: Marjorie Christiansen Photography
On Saturday, December 2, I’ll bet that many of us wake up singing “I Love a Parade” while we busily gather everyone together to head to downtown Highlands for the much-loved annual Christmas Parade.
Step off starts promptly at 11:00 but it’s a tradition to get there early, claim a good viewing spot, and seek out your friends and neighbors for a friendly chat while anxiously waiting for the fun to start.
This parade embodies the heart and soul of our community and is staged entirely by local civic groups, non-profits, churches, businesses, fire departments, and many more. You’ll definitely spot some of your friends and neighbors marching the parade route and if you smile and wave they might reward you with a bountiful handout of candy.
You’ll see homemade floats that took long hours of volunteer labor and good times to assemble. Many parade participants say that the hours spent in preparation were as meaningful as marching in the parade itself. Joining the fun will be at least one marching band, horses, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, dogs (both with and without Santa hats), fire trucks, rescue vehicles, classic cars, the Highlands School Homecoming Court and athletic teams, local politicians, Smokey The Bear, possibly a camel or two and the ever-popular and always well-rehearsed crowd favorites, the dancing ladies of the Highlands Garden Club. Ending it with a bang and to the delight of the youngest spectators are Santa and Mrs. Claus, who always mark their calendars so they can attend our parade. Rumor has it that this is one of Santa’s favorite parades
If you’re part of a group that would like to be included in the lineup, contact the Highlands Chamber of Commerce at (828) 526-2112. Entry forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office. There is no entry fee and the more the merrier, so don’t be shy, join the fun today. Please note that Santa is already in the lineup though, so no need to invite him to be in your entry.
