The coronavirus pandemic has not squashed Hopkinsville’s Christmas Parade, but it has pushed the tradition in a completely new direction. This year the floats, vehicles and bands that comprise the parade will be stationary. It’s the audience that will be on the move.
The Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation Department calls it the “first-ever reverse Christmas Parade.”
It’s set for 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on Main Street.
The theme is “Home for the Holidays,” which takes on added meaning in 2020 when many people will decide to avoid travel at Christmastime because of the virus.
Rather than having several thousand people crowded on downtown sidewalks, the audience will drive by the parked parade. Police officers will control the traffic flow.
Employees of Christian County Emergency Management and the local health department will be grand marshals in recognition of their work during the pandemic.
County Health Director Kayla Bebout called it an honor. “We appreciate the community’s support during these trying times,” she said in a news release from the recreation department. “It takes each one of us to do our part to lessen the spread of the virus in our community.”
Bebout stressed the role of the county’s emergency manager during the pandemic.
“Randy Graham and his team have been with us since March 19, and have been an essential part of the process. Without them, we would not be able to do all that we are doing in the community as we fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” she said. “We will continue to work together to protect the health of those in our community and ask everyone to practice safe and healthy habits this holiday season.”
Businesses, organizations, schools, clubs and non-profits are encouraged to participate. The deadline to enter is Nov. 18.
Hopkinsville Electric System-EnergyNet is sponsoring the parade and will give prizes. The Chamber of Commerce and WHVO/WKDZ are also sponsoring awards.
The entry fee is $20, plus an unwrapped Christmas toy. Entry forms are available online. Questions can be addressed by calling Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation at 270-887-4290.
As part of the parade weekend, the community tree-lighting ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 in Founders Square at Ninth and Main streets.
Skatin’ on the Square will return for its third year with a synthetic ice-skating rink Dec. 11 through 13 at Founders Square. Skating will be limited to 50 people per session.
More details will be available later about the parade route and Skatin’ on the Square, a recreation official said.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.
