The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is proud to announce the 2013 Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration theme: “Jamestown’s Snowball Express.”
“The event’s planning committee has decided on this universal theme to connect the story of The Polar Express with Jamestown’s refurbished Gateway Train Station and traditional downtown holiday imagery,” said Tiffani Conti, the JRC’s Event and Programming Associate. “We are very excited to see how parade entrants and downtown businesses incorporate this theme into their decorations.”
The 2013 parade will be held on Friday, December 6, 2013, in downtown Jamestown. Parade line-up will begin promptly at 5:00pm on Third Street between Monroe Avenue and Hallock Street, with the parade stepping off at 6:30pm and traveling east on Third Street to Tracy Plaza. The parade will conclude by 8:00pm.
All businesses and organizations interested in participating in the parade are asked to register by November 25. Participation includes a fee of $10.00 for all commercial and business entrants. For non-commercial, not-for-profit, and civic organizations, the $10.00 fee is optional. The registration form can be downloaded here. Businesses and organizations may also sponsor a trophy for $25.00. There will be eight different trophy categories for the parade in 2013 including Best Theme Related parade unit, Best Animal, Best Business, Best Civic/Not-for-Profit, Best Youth Involvement, Most Creative, Best All Around, and Crowd Favorite.
“We have added a brand new category, Fan Favorite, that will allow attendees to vote for their favorite float,” added Conti. “Providing more opportunities for parade-goers and downtown businesses to participate in this celebration is one of our goals this year.”
For the seventh year in a row, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation also invites participation in the Jamestown Snowball Drop, which will take place in conjunction with post-parade festivities. Thousands of Ping-Pong balls will be available for local business and organization to place special discounts and prizes on them. Once collected, the simulated snowballs are dropped from a Jamestown Fire Department ladder truck following the parade over the intersection of East Third Street and Spring Street. Those who catch a “snowball” may redeem it at the establishment written on the Ping-Pong ball to receive the prize or discount. Interested businesses, organizations, and event organizers are asked to contact Tiffani Conti at 716-664-2477×226 to participate.
“We encourage all businesses to participate to generate additional foot traffic—especially downtown businesses,” said Conti. “This is a unique—and free—advertising and promotional opportunity.”
Additional holiday activities and events in the Jamestown area, on December 6 and throughout the holiday season, can be found on the events calendar at jamestownupclose.com, a Web site managed by the JRC.
More information on “Jamestown’s Snowball Express” Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration, including this year’s sponsors, will be released as it becomes available.