Monday, November 26, 2012

Christmas Comes to the ‘Magic City’ - Parade 12/1/2012 at 3pm



Middlesboro, Kentucky, November 26, 2012 – Preparations are well underway in the ‘Magic City’ for an exciting and memorable Christmas season. A Parade and Tree Lighting will be held on Saturday, December 1, starting at 3pm. The parade theme “Angels Among Us” will be reflected in angels decorated by area organizations, businesses, and youth and placed throughout the historic downtown.

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
The Christmas Parade will run from 15th Street to 21st Street and start off promptly at 3pm. This year many popular favorites from past years will be joined by several new acts.
The Parade Grand Marshal this year will be IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Dale Ann Bradley. She’ll lead off the parade in a car driven by Larry Brooks of Larry Brooks Accounting. Over 15 organizations plan to submit floats. This includes old favorites like the Old Yellow Creek Baptist Church, The Way of Holiness Church of God, and the Harrogate Christian Tabernacle. New this year will be floats from the Middlesboro High School Senior Class, Bell County 4H Club, and Team up for Health.
Other highlights of the parade include pageant winners, antique cars, sports cars, and cheerleaders. The Cumberland Gap Pantherettes will make an appearance in the parade, as will the Middlesboro High School Band and the Red Bird Mission School – to name just a few.
While registration for the parade has officially ended, those groups still wanting to participate are welcome to contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro for more information. We’ll do our best to accommodate last-minute requests.
The annual tree lighting in Fountain Square will start at 5pm. The brief program will include Christmas Carols, a visit from Santa Claus, and other special surprises.

Angels to Appear Downtown
                Middlesboro ARH Hospital is providing 24 wooden angels as decorations for downtown businesses. Artistic and creative people, organizations, and businesses have been sought, and are hard at work right now designing one-of-a-kind looking angels. These will be installed downtown prior to the Christmas Parade.
                After the holiday season ends, the angels will be auctioned in early January with proceeds from the auction going to support the renovation of the Newborn Nursery and OB Department at Middlesboro ARH Hospital.
                Awards will be given for the best decorated angel. Go to the Discover Downtown Middlesboro website for more details: www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org.

Window painting
                Students from Middlesboro High School will once again paint storefront windows downtown. While the response from business and building owners so far has been great, we’re still looking for a few more storefronts to decorate. Please contact DDM if you’re interested in participating.

A Special Thank You to our Sponsors, More Info
The Middlesboro Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting would not be possible without the support of the following kind and generous sponsors: Attorney Keith Nagle; Bell County Animal Clinic; Commercial Bank; Community Trust Bank; First State Financial; International Mobile Homes; Jim Brown Supply; Johnco, Inc.; J.P. Cline III, Attorney at Law; KAT COUNTRY WFXY/WANO & MCTV22; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Middlesboro ARH; Mikel’s Pharmacy; Pace Towing; Pillion Accounting; Three States Printing; and World Wide Gap.
If you have any questions or would like to get involved in the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting please contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro at 606-248-6155.

Contact:
Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director
Discover Downtown Middlesboro
(606) 248-6155

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Middlesboro Christmas Parade Preparations Well Underway

The parade as it passes through Fountain Square.

Middlesboro, Kentucky, November 7, 2012 – The annual Middlesboro Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting is just a few short weeks away on December 1, starting at 3pm. The parade will run along Cumberland Ave from 15th Street to 24th Street. We are actively seeking out organizations, businesses, youth groups, and civic groups who want to participate in the parade.

The Grand Marshal of the parade this year will be Dale Ann Bradley. She has been named IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year five times, most recently in 2012. Just a few of the groups that will be participating include the Children’s Reading Foundation of Appalachia, Cumberland Gap Pantherettes, The Way of Holiness Church of God, and the Yellow Creek Cheerleading Squad. From Middlesboro the Fire Department, High School Band, High School Junior ROTC and Middle School Cheerleaders will also be participating.

“Angels Among Us” is the parade theme that has been selected for this year. In selecting this theme it was felt to be a wonderful way to recognize people who in their lives and careers have provided exceptional service to our community as professionals, employees, volunteers, and residents.

Nominations for “Angels Among Us” are actively being sought, and may be sent to downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com. Please include “Angels Among Us” in the subject line of your message along with the name of the person you are nominating and a few words about why you nominated them. Winners will be publicly recognized during the parade.

Festivities will culminate with a Tree Lighting in Fountain Square following the parade, expected to begin around 5pm.

Know of a business, organization, youth group, or civic group that wants to march in the parade, or serve as a vendor selling refreshments during the parade? Application forms are available on the Discover Downtown Middlesboro website at www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org. If you have any questions, please contact DDM Executive Director Isaac Kremer at (606) 248-6155.



Contact:
Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director
Discover Downtown Middlesboro

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