What better way to get in the holiday spirit than to come out for the Midddlesboro Christmas Parade? This favorite annual holiday event runs along Cumberland Ave from 15th to 21st Street. Bring your whole family out to get a healthy dose of fun and entertainment, all culminating with Santa Claus riding down Cumberland Avenue! The parade starts off promptly at 3pm. Some groups will provide brief performances in Fountain Square. Entries will be judged and the winners awarded prizes. Be sure to come out for the excitement! Please visit the Christmas Parade event page on Facebook, tell us if you're going, and invite your friends!
Here's the official 2015 Christmas Parade lineup:
- Middlesboro High School JROTC Color Guard
- Middlesboro High School JROTC
- Kentucky State Senator Brandon Smith
- RTR Dance & Tumble
- RTR Dance Squad
- Bell County High School AFJROTC
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, US Park Ranger Law Enforcement
- Bell County Tourism and Friends of the Cumberland Gap Park, "Remembering America's Greatest Treasures"
- Middlesboro Youth Cheerleaders
- Middlesboro High School Marching Yellow Jackets
- Middlesboro High School Key Club
- 1955 Ford Crown-Vic, Jim Grubb
- 1979 Oldsmobile, Bill Gunter
- Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival Queens
- Frakes School Center Cheerleaders
- Red Bird Christian School Praise Team
- West Cumberland Avenue Baptist Church, "Happy Birthday Jesus"
- 1957 Thunderbird, Cora Ann Yeary
- 1957 Thunderbird, Don Miracle
- Tri State Paranormal Investigators
- Covenant Kids
- CGHS Pantherettes
- Old Fashion Church of God
- 1936 Unstyled A John Deere Tractor, Orville Lawson
- Boy Scout Troop #559
- American Rental
- Liberty Tax Service
- Girl Scout Troop #1523
- 1999 Chevrolet Silverado SuperBeast, Cox & Sons Garage
- 1991 Chevy 1500, Cox & Sons Garage
- 1972 Plymouth Cuda, Gary England
- Buddy's Repair Shop
- Green Hills Funeral Home
- Middlesboro Coca-Cola
- A2Z Performance
- Middlesboro Bell County Airport
- City of Harrogate Volunteer Fire Department
- City of Middlesboro Fire Department
- Santa Claus
Also, join us for the Tri-State Messiah Sing Along after the Parade. We'll bring together professional soloists, an orchestra, and hundreds of audience members who will double as the chorus in a thrilling performance of Handel's masterpiece, Messiah. The performance will be held at First Baptist Church in Middlesboro and start at 7pm. Go to the Messiah event page on Facebook, tell us if you're going, and invite your friends!
Gene Roberts will serve as conductor for the Messiah Sing Along. Performers and soloists will include:
ORCHESTRA
- Elizabeth Farr, violin 1
- Andrew Duncan, violin 2
- Nina Missildine, viola
- D. Scot Williams, cello
- Joy Bundon, flute
- Brittany Knop, trumpet
- Josh Sumter, organ
SOLOISTS
- Kristy Bay, soprano
- Beth Johnson, alto
- Beth Parker, alto
- Mike Bundon, tenor
- David Glover, bass
Christmas in the Crater has received generous support from a number of sponsors and friends. Sponsors include LG&E and KU Energy, Middlesboro Coca-Cola Bottling Works, and Shoffner Realty. Generous contributions have also been made from Abraham Music, Bowling Law Office, First Baptist Church Middlesboro, Home Federal Bank, J.R. Hoe and Sons, Middlesboro Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Middlesboro Walmart Supercenter, St. Julian Catholic Church, and St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Individual donors include Zach and Kristy Bay, Keith Nagle, and Steven and Deborah Obermann.
Through a partnership with Fund for the Arts based out of Louisville and Power2Give.org every dollar raised in support of Christmas in the Crater will be matched by .50 cents from LG&E and KU Energy LLC. You have until December 5 to make your donation at Power2Give.org.
