Christmas cheer marching onto area streets

By GREG JORDAN

PRINCETON — Annual Christmas celebrations kick off Monday in the Virginias when the Princeton Christmas Parade takes to the city streets, but more processions featuring bands, floats and a famous fellow in a red suit are soon to follow.

Up to 100 units have marched in previous Princeton Christmas Parades, so organizers are reminding residents and visitors to expect an interruption in traffic patterns from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday. This congestion will be centered on the area of Mercer Street, Straley Avenue, Harrison Street and adjoining side streets. Starting at 5 p.m., the Princeton Police Department and Princeton Rescue Squad will block off Thorn Street at South Wickham, organizers said.

This year’s Princeton parade features the theme “100 Years of Christmas in Princeton” to commemorate the city’s centennial year.

The Bramwell Christmas Parade gets underway 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. All area groups including marching units, vehicles, floats, decorated all-terrain vehicles, horses and more, are invited to participate. This year’s Grand Marshal is Speaker of the House Rick Thompson, D-Wayne.

Participants in the Bramwell parade are being asked to line up at 10:15 a.m. After the parade, children up to 12-years-old will have their photographs made with Santa, organizers said. Parade Chair Edris Miller can be reached at 304-248-7188, and Bramwell Town Hall is at 304-248-7114.

The Christmas Tour of historic homes in Bramwell will be Dec. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

The Bluewell Christmas Parade is set for 3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 5.

The seventh annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Tazewell, Va. will be Friday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Street Mini-Park. Hot chocolate and cookies courtesy of Heritage Hall will be available, and the Tazewell High School Green T’s will perform.

Also in Tazewell, Va., the annual Christmas Parade will begin 4 p.m.. Sunday, Dec. 6. Line-up for the parade will begin 2 p.m. at Tazewell High School. The parade route runs from the school to the west end of Main Street, ending at the Tazewell Little League Field.

All area churches, civic groups, community organizations and businesses are being encourage to enter a float, car or marching unit. The deadline for entry is Thursday, Dec. 3. For more information or a parade entry form, call the Tazewell Area Chamber of Commerce

The Annual Pocahontas, Va. Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Small Town Christmas,” and area churches, clubs and businesses are invited to participate. There will be awards for the top three best decorated floats and a cash award for the top three best decorated four-wheelers. For more information, call Jean Boone at 276-945-2369 or Amy Flick at 276-945-9670.

In Bluefield, Va., the annual Christmas Parade will be Dec. 5 at noon, the first Saturday of the month. The parade was once held in late December, but cold weather often affected participation and attendance, so it was moved to earlier in the season so people can enjoy better temperatures. More than 50 units signed up for last year’s parade.

The Richlands, Va. Christmas Parade is also scheduled for Dec. 5. An elementary school student from Richlands, Cedar Bluff or Raven schools is chosen to be grand marshal.

On Dec. 12, the 56th consecutive Bluefield Christmas Parade will march in downtown Bluefield. The parade was originally scheduled to begin a noon, but it has been moved to 1 p.m., said Art Riley of the Bluefield Downtown Merchants Association. Members of a high school band are scheduled to take ACT tests that morning, so the time was changed to accommodate them.

Last year’s Christmas parade features more than 65 units and four marching bands, Riley said.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

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