With the city of Emporia experiencing some turbulent times in recent days, the 46th annual Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade looked to bring some much-needed cheer to the community Tuesday night.
More than 80 entries made their way down Commercial Street for the annual holiday tradition. Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President Jeanine McKenna says the recent announcements of the closures of Tyson and Holiday Resort made this year’s parade all the more important in her mind.
Pastor Mike Stubbs of Victory Fellowship Church agreed with McKenna and focused his holiday message Tuesday evening on hope.
As always, a large number of Tuesday’s parade entries entered to be judged for a quartet of awards. The winning floats that best embodied the theme for this year’s parade “A Story Book Christmas” were as follows:
*Parade Marshall Award: Simmons
*Parade Committee Award: 1st Church of the Nazarene
*Chamber Award: Emporia Energy Softball
*Mayor’s Award: Latin Fit
Once again this year the parade was broadcast in its entirety on KVOE’s airwaves and online at KVOE.com/TV. Click here to rewatch the parade on KVOETV.
Click here for a YouTube short from the 46th annual Christmas Parade.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon and Chuck Samples/KVOE News
