Dates, start times for local Christmas parades announced

As the song lyric goes, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” and this will be especially true locally over the next few days as Corbin, Williamsburg and Jellico all prepare for their annual Christmas parades.

The Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission will hold the Corbin Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m., and this year it will be 10 blocks longer than usual.

“One thing to note is that the Corbin Tourism office is always looking for ways to make things bigger and better, so we have changed the line up to 19th and Main. The parade will go from 18th to Gordon Hill on Main Street,” said Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Monhollen.

“Christmas in Corbin is our favorite time of year, and we are always excited to provide high quality and fun events to our guests and citizens alike! We look forward to seeing everyone as we celebrate the magic of the season!”

Pre-parade festivities will take place from 5 – 7 p.m. at NIBROC Park.

Santa Claus will be in his house and will be giving a gift to every child that sees him.

Parkway Ministries will be giving away free hot chocolate, and there will be a variety of crafts, such as letters to Santa, card making and ornament making. In addition, there will be a few photo opportunities available at the park, Monhollen noted.

Currently, there are about 40 entrants registered for the parade, but it’s not too late to take part.

Monhollen said that although the deadline was technically Nov. 26 to register a float, entrants wouldn’t be turned away as long as they get organizers a registration form that can be found on the tourism commission’s website at https://corbinkytourism.com/.

To enter a float or for more information, call (606) 528-8860.

In the event of heavy rain or snow, the make-up date will be Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Williamsburg parade

The 2022 City of Williamsburg Feels Like Home Christmas in a Small Town Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. on Main Street.

The theme for this year’s parade is “It’s a Peppermint Christmas.”

“We would like to make the parade better by getting more people involved. Our goal is to have more floats and musical presentations to help our town celebrate the Christmas holiday,” Mayor Roddy Harrison wrote in an open letter to the community.

Floats will be judged by three categories: church, business and school.

Each category will be judged and first place winners in each category will receive $150. Second place winners will receive $100 and third place winners will receive $50.

School bands and/or school choirs will receive $200 for participation in the Williamsburg parade.

All Williamsburg parade entry forms must be turned in at the Williamsburg Tourism Office by Thursday, Dec. 1. You must have an entry on file in order to be in the parade.

Jellico Christmas events

On Friday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. there will be a Christmas tree lighting in Veteran’s Park in downtown Jellico.

There will be hot chocolate, cookies, Christmas caroling and Santa Claus will be on hand to take photos and hear gift requests from the children.

The Jellico Christmas Parade will take place on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m.

WATE news anchors Lori Tucker and Bo Williams will be this year’s parade grand marshals.

Santa Claus will be there riding on the Jellico fire truck and will be throwing candy.

“We invite everyone to be a part of this year’s parade with a parade entry or just as a spectator. Come help us make this year’s parade the best ever,” Jellico Tourism Director Jake Bennett wrote in a Facebook post.