Christmas parade returns

According to Gary Mason with the Downtown Development Authority, there will be a Christmas parade this year in Swainsboro. This comes after a year of no organized holiday festivities due to coronavirus in 2020.

The celebration will be held the first Thursday of next month, December 2. Line-up will begin at 5 p.m., and the parade itself will commence 30 minutes later. The route will begin at the railroad tracks near BB&T, travel north toward Citizens Bank, take a right onto Church Street, and disburse in the parking lot shared between the board of education and East Georgia Healthcare.

Mason indicated Monday there will be cash and trophies up for grabs as well. The first place parade entrant will earn $250, second place will be awarded $200, third place will be given $150, and the best golf cart will receive $100.

Once the parade is over, ol’ Saint Nick himself will be on the square for pictures. Parade winners will be announced in that area around 6:45 to 7 p.m.

There is no entry fee to participate. However, there is a deadline to sign up to be in the parade. Forms obtained from either Swainsboro City Hall, the chamber of commerce, or the city’s website must be completed and returned by November 26.

“We said earlier this year we would have a Christmas parade if our COVID numbers were better,” Mason explained. “We feel like they are, and the DDA is happy to put this event together for the citizens. We hope everyone will come out and celebrate the holidays together.”