11/30/04

10th Annual Happy Holly Days Parade Marches Down Main Street Dec. 11
Entries Include Floats, Bands, Santa Claus, Locals

There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by enjoying the 10th-annual Happy Holly Days Parade on Saturday, December 11, at 11 a.m. along Main Street. The Holly Springs parade has nearly 60 entries, including floats, bands and a special visit from Santa Claus. Concessions will be sold throughout the event in the Town Hall parking lot.

The day’s festivities begin at 10 a.m. when The Minute Men perform prior to the parade. The Minute Men, a classic rock band, includes two Holly Springs residents – Tommy Pope and his son, Josh.

The actual parade kicks off at 11 a.m. The parade begins on Main Street near Food Lion and passes by Town Hall. Longtime parade emcees Tim and Fay Congleton will narrate the event.

Local non-profits will sell concessions in the Town Hall parking lot throughout the event. Concessions include hot cocoa and cider, hotdogs and a bake sale with Moravian cookies.

Parking is available in local business and church parking lots. On-street parking also is available with the exception of Raleigh Street and Cayman Avenue.

The event is sponsored by the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Holly Springs.

This year’s parade is a significant one, marking its 10 th year. Parade grand marshals will be Holly Springs employees Joni Powell and Barb Koblich. Powell, the Town clerk, and Koblich, Town information clerk, have organized the parade all 10 years.

“It gets me in the holiday spirit,” Powell said. “I use it as an impetus to get my Christmas shopping done.”

Powell said that planning the parade begins in October and includes ensuring a variety of entries and coordinating the event with Public Safety.

When Powell and Koblich began planning the parade 10 years ago, the route traveled along Raleigh Street and included fewer entries. As more people moved to Holly Springs, the parade grew. It remains a local favorite seasonal event.

“Ten years ago, there were no scout troops, no Lions Club, no Kiwanis Club,” Koblich said. “Now it’s so neat to see that the people who have moved here have taken an interest in the community. Everyone looks forward to the parade; it’s the kickoff to the holiday season in Holly Springs.”

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us