The sights and sounds of Christmas will soon fill the streets of downtown Franklin as the Franklin Chamber of Commerce prepares for its Annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, November 30, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
This year’s parade will carry special meaning as 828 VETS has been selected to serve as Grand Marshal, recognizing Macon County’s designation as a Purple Heart Community and honoring the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation.
The Purple Heart is our nation’s oldest military award, presented to U.S. service members who are wounded or killed as a result of enemy action. The medal is a lasting symbol of courage, sacrifice and devotion to our country.
Macon County has a particularly strong connection to military service, with an estimated 2,994 veterans representing approximately 9.7% of the county’s population — the highest per capita veteran population of any county in North Carolina. To date, 450 Purple Heart recipients residing in Macon County have been identified.
828 VETS is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting veterans and their families. By naming the organization Grand Marshal, the Chamber hopes to express the community’s gratitude to those who have served, particularly Purple Heart recipients whose sacrifices deserve our lasting recognition.
The Christmas Parade is one of Franklin’s most cherished holiday traditions, bringing families, friends and neighbors together to celebrate the joy of the season. Spectators can look forward to colorful floats, festive decorations, music and plenty of Christmas cheer as the parade makes its way through downtown.
Parade entries will line up along Church Street behind the Macon County Courthouse. The route will begin at the top of Town Hill beside Town Hall, proceed down Main Street, turn left at Lazy Hiker Brewing Company onto Porter Street, then left onto Palmer Street, concluding at the intersection of Highlands Road and Main Street.
Participants may have walkers accompany their floats to distribute candy to spectators. However, for safety reasons, candy may not be thrown from moving vehicles. All horses participating in the parade must wear manure bags.
Registration is required for all parade entries. Entry forms are available at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, located at 98 Hyatt Road. Participants are encouraged to contact the Chamber for registration information and deadlines. Commercial floats are also available for rent by contacting Diane at the Chamber office. Registration deadline is Wednesday, November 25 at 12 noon.
Of course, no Christmas parade would be complete without a special appearance by Santa Claus! His arrival will once again delight children of all ages and officially welcome the Christmas season to Franklin.
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to come downtown, enjoy this beloved holiday tradition and join in honoring the veterans whose service and sacrifice have helped preserve the freedoms we cherish.
For more information about the Annual Christmas Parade, contact the Franklin Chamber of Commerce at 828-524-3161.