Christmas parade float deadline

Area groups, businesses and organizations are encouraged to begin preparing their float entries for the 2011 Christmas Parade. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, November 18.
The parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5 in downtown Hot Springs. This year’s parade theme is “Christmas in America.” The parade is sponsored by the Oaklawn Rotary Club.

The parade will again serve as a community food drive this year to help stock local food pantries. Parade entrants can either contribute canned goods or submit a parade entrance fee. Award categories include Best Decorated Float, Best Use of Theme, Best Use of Special Effects, Best Choreographed, and Most Decorated Nonfloat. All canned goods will be donated to the Project Hope Food Bank.

In addition to floats, marching groups, horses, bicycles, color guards and walking groups are allowed. Business vehicles must pull either a decorated trailer or float. No more than 80 entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. All entrants are required to send a representative to a mandatory pre-parade meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 27 at the Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace. Parade lineup numbers and additional information will be distributed at the meeting.

This year’s parade co-sponsors include Simmons First Bank, Steamatic of Hot Springs, Sanders Plumbing and Lighting, and Skip Holland of Edward Jones Investments.

Parade information and the official entry form are available on the homepage of the City of Hot Springs’ Web site, cityhs.net. Paper copies may be picked up in the Public Information office at City Hall, 133 Convention Boulevard, or at any Simmons First Bank. For more information, contact Dave Hoffman, 318-2222.