Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation has announced the theme and co-grand marshals for this year’s HES/energynet Christmas Parade to be held December 11 in downtown.
After the Christmas parade was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parks and Rec Marketing and Events Coordinator Taylor Duke says the 2021 parade theme will appropriately be “Home for the Holidays’ as the community and country continue to rally from the pandemic’s impact.
She says the parade co-grand marshals will be first and front-line responders as the parade salutes those who have led the daily battle against the coronavirus in up-close and personal duty. Duke notes the co-grand marshals will consist of one representative from the Hopkinsville Fire Department, Hopkinsville Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Christian County Emergency Management, Christian County Health Department and Jennie Stuart Health and will lead the parade together.
HES/energynet General Manager Jeff Hurd says they are excited to see the Christmas night parade return to Hopkinsville this year. He adds HES is proud to sponsor this holiday event which will recognize all the front-line responders who protect and serve our community.
Parks and Rec Superintendent Tab Brockman says everyone is looking forward to the HES/energynet Christmas parade as a huge part of the local holiday tradition. He notes the floats, bands, golf carts, businesses and clubs all enter fabulous units that turn downtown into a brilliant display of lights and sounds. He says that it’s even more special this year since those who have led the battle against COVID will be honored as the parade’s grand marshals.
The “Home for the Holidays” Christmas parade will be held Saturday evening, December 11, at 5:15. Cash prizes will be presented for the traditional floats and golf carts, while WKDZ/WHVO will, once again, sponsor the “People’s Choice Award”, which is presented to the most popular float as voted on by the public.
According to Duke, the deadline to enter floats in the Christmas parade is Friday, November 19. She says the cost to enter a float is $20 and a new toy. Registration forms are available for pickup at the Thomas Street Rec Center at 2600 Thomas Street or registration forms can be downloaded from the web at hoptownrec.com.
Duke says the HES/energynet Night Christmas Parade will wrap up a fantastic holiday weekend in downtown Hopkinsville as the Community Christmas Tree Lighting takes place at Founders Square at 6:00 on the evening of December 10th. She indicates the popular Skating on the Square will return for a two-day run on the ice at Founders Square on December 11-12 with the Farmers Holiday Market taking place on Saturday, December 11th.
For more information about the HES/energynet Christmas parade, contact Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation.