CHRISTMAS PARADE WILL LIGHT UP DOWNTOWN SUNDAY

Holiday parades are an American tradition and the Christmas Parade of Lights through downtown Cape Girardeau on Sunday will accentuate the color and warmth of the holiday season.

There will be twinkling lights, Yuletide tunes, merry people on floats and on foot -- and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales will lead the way.

There were about 85 entries in last year's parade and at least that many are expected this year.

"We think about 10,000 people lined the streets for the parade last year," said Doc Cain, parade chairman. "It was quite a success. We think we'll probably have even more people watching this year because the Clydesdales are coming. It's going to be a bigger and better parade."

The Christmas Parade of Lights is sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association, KBSI Fox 23 Television and River Eagle Distributing. It will begin at nightfall, about 5 p.m., at Capaha Park on Broadway.

The parade is expected to last over an hour. Participants will proceed along Broadway to Main Street where they will turn right and travel to the downtown area's south parking lot, near the new floodwall mural and across from Hutson Furniture.

The grand marshal of the parade is Mayor Al Spradling III. The Clydesdales, an eight-horse hitch, will pull the famous red, white and gold beer wagon. And jolly ol' St. Nick will grace the parade in his traditional role at the end of the holiday show. He'll ride in the Merchants Association's train float. The float will feature smoke coming from a locomotive smokestack, and other realistic effects.

As added enjoyment for youngsters, the cartoon character Bart Simpson will again make an appearance on the KBSI Kids' Club House float.

"An interesting addition this year will be a big mailbox so kids can mail letters to Santa," said Cain. "The Postal Service will put a mailbox on the float in front of Santa. Kids can hand their letters to postal Santa elves who will drop them in the box."

The parade can be observed from most any point along the route. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Not only will the colorful and fanciful parade be pleasing to the eye, it will also be pleasant to the taste -- plenty of people will be throwing tasty holiday treats to the onlookers.

Many merchants and residents along the parade route are putting white lights in their windows to contribute to the festive atmosphere.

Prior to the parade will be a Christmas Walk from 1 to 5. Many downtown merchants will be open during those hours and some may stay open during the parade.

Parade entries are now being accepted and will continue to be until the day before the event, although it might be possible to join the parade Sunday.

"We'd like to have the paperwork in as soon as possible. But as far as we're concerned the more the merrier," Cain said. For entry information call Cain at 334-0954.

Line-up will begin at Capaha Park about 3 p.m. Participants should use the rose garden entrance off of Perry Ave. The area will be "flagged" to mark the line-up spots.