Cape, Jackson prepare for Christmas parades

Christmas events that have become annual area traditions will be on display when the 22nd annual Parade of Lights and the Jackson Jaycee Foundation Christmas Parade hit the streets in December.

Parade of Lights

The Parade of Lights, hosted by Old Town Cape, is scheduled to roll through downtown Cape Girardeau at 5 p.m., or as soon as dusk arrives, on Dec. 1.

"This year's theme is 'Christmas for Everyone,'" said Nicholle Hinkle, project manager for Old Town Cape. "It will be a great way to kick off the Christmas season."

Hinkle said the Parade of Lights will include floats and other moving displays by local businesses and not-for-profit groups that will be lighted with Christmas decorations and play Christmas music.

The 20th annual Parade of Lights on Nov. 27, 2011, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Old Town Cape)

"It's a great way to get noticed," she said. "We encourage entrants to be creative."

Hinkle said awards will be given to Parade of Light entrants for best theme, appearance (business and not-for-profit), music, lighting and marching band. Entrants also will be competing for the Chairman's award that will go to best-overall float or display as determined by Old Town Cape volunteers.

A distinctive feature of the Parade of Lights will be the collections for Toys for Tots during the parade by the Marine Corps League.

"This is our second year to do it," said Richard Bollwerk, coordinator of the Marine Corps League's Toys for Tots program. "We'll have about 25 league members and active Marines collecting toys. We'll be pretty close to the front of the parade in a large truck."

Bollwerk said the Marine Corps League collected more than 500 toys for Toys for Tots at last year's parade.

"We're looking forward to doing it again," he said. "Hopefully we'll have good weather."

The 20th annual Parade of Lights on Nov. 27, 2011 in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Old Town Cape)

Kent Zickfield, Parade of Lights chairman, said the parade has become a recognizable event over the years.

"As parades go, it's a good one," Zickfield said. "It's at night with all the Christmas decorations and the music playing, and the time of the season makes it special."

All of Southeast Missouri looks forward to the parade, Zickfield said.

"It's a tremendous amount of fun," he said. "It's great to see the smiles on the kids' faces."

Potential entrants in the Parade of Lights should hurry to fill out an application, according to Hinkle.

"Entries are limited to the first 100 applicants," she said. "We're at 93 applicants already."

For more information on entering the Parade of Lights, contact Hinkle at Old Town Cape at 334-8085 or visit oldtowncape.org.

The Southeast Missourian is a sponsor of the Parade of Lights.

Jaycee Foundation

In Jackson, the Jaycee Foundation Christmas Parade is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 in uptown Jackson.

"The theme this year is 'Christmas in Jackson,'" said Brian Gerau, executive director of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. "There's going to be a little bit of everything. Civic groups will be putting in floats and we're going to have the Jackson High School Marching Band."

Beth Bollinger, parade coordinator for the Jaycee Foundation, said the Christmas parade averages about 70 entrants each year.

"We're at about 40 applicants now," Bollinger said. "That number should grow as we get closer to the parade."

Entrants will be notified of the time and place to line up for the Christmas parade, Bollinger said. Entrants also are encouraged to donate $10 to offset parade expenses.

For more information on entering the Jackson Jaycee Foundation Christmas Parade, contact the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce at 243-8131.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635