Several parades slated for this weekend
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on December 2, 2015 1:46 PM
Goldsboro's Christmas parade is set to kick off this Saturday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m., rain or shine.
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Commander Col. Mark Slocum will be the grand marshal for Goldsboro's parade.
The parade will start on Center Street by the Police and Fire Department Complex at the corner of Center and Spruce Streets.
Floats, bands, vehicles and other entries will then move down Center Street, turn right onto Walnut Street, the take a left onto John Street, turn left onto Mulberry Street, turn right back on to Center Street by City Hall, then circle through the roundabout on East Ash Street and ride back down Center Street before finishing at the starting point.
Parade entries have been assigned to four different staging area, designated by the colors of blue, green, red and yellow. A full parade map, complete with staging areas, can be found at http://www.waynecountychamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2015-Christmas-Parade-Route.pdf.
Performing groups, such as any bands, ROTC programs, twirling groups, drum lines or dancers, will have designated areas where they can stop and perform for a maximum of two minutes.
Performers will be able to stop in front of the Waynesborough House on Center Street, in front of The Flying Shamrock on John Street and in front of the old Little Bank building on Center Street.
No parade entries will be allowed to throw candy to the crowd during the parade, as a city ordinance designates it as a safety hazard.
A full list of guidelines for parade entries can be found at http://www.waynecountychamber.com/thrive-prosper/young-professionals-group-christmas-parade/.
Non-compliance with the guidelines found on the chamber's website will result in disciplinary action from the chamber and law enforcement officials, which can include everything from a warning, a citation or removal from the parade all-together.
Mount Olive will also hold its Christmas parade this Saturday, Dec. 5, which will stage on Henderson Street in front of the university of Mount Olive at 9 a.m. and begin at 10 a.m. by stepping off on North Breazeale Avenue at the parking lot of the Mount Olive Shopping Center.
The parade will go straight down North Breazeale Avenue and disband at Pollock Street.
The parade, sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, will have a grand marshal picked by the public. Nominations will be vetted and a grand marshal chosen by the Chamber Executive Board for the third year in a row.
This year, the grand marshal is Vicky Darden.
Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce President Julie Beck said Mrs. Darden received 18 nominations for grand marshal -- many of which outlined the good works Mrs. Darden has done for the town of Mount Olive and surrounding areas.
It is the third year that the Chamber has turned to the community to nominate someone to serve as grand marshal.
To be eligible, the nominee must live in Mount Olive or the surrounding area and who volunteers or gives back to the community without any concern for personal financial gain.
Other requirements are that the person deserves credit for good deeds completed, but doesn't always receive recognition, and is an inspiration toward making the community a better place to live, work and play.
Fremont will also hold its Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m.
The Fremont parade will begin at the corner of Vance Street and Main Street, then will head west up Main Street, then will turn south onto Goldsboro Street, then will go two blocks and turn east onto South Street, then head to Dock Street before finishing where it began.
Dr. Earl Moore, the principal of Charles B. Aycock High School, will be the grand marshal of the Fremont Christmas parade.
Pikeville will hold its Christmas parade this Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. The parade will begin at the park, head down Main Street and finish by cruising down Railroad Street.
There is no grand marshal for this year's Pikeville Christmas parade.