The annual Emporia Community Christmas Parade hosted by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce will be filling the streets of downtown Emporia Tuesday evening.
The theme for this year’s parade, which marks the 41st year of the annual Emporia tradition, will be Christmas Wishes. As of Monday, there are currently 80 different organizations and groups registered to have floats in the parade.
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeanine McKenna explains the parade is truly the community’s event, rather than just being an event put on for the community. She says that is due both to the continued traditions associated with the parade, as well as a large amount of community involvement.
A treasured position in the annual event is that of the Parade Marshall. This year that distinction goes to Chris Phillips who has been a Chamber member since 1979, and has had a hand in planning and running the parade since its inception.
Mckenna says this is the Chamber’s way of saying thank you to Phillips for all of his hard work through the years.
Festivities get underway starting at 6:30 p.m. with the lighting and dedication ceremony. The Parade will then follow starting at 7 p.m. and will stretch down Commercial Street from 4th ave to 12th.
KVOE will be broadcasting the parade in its entirety on 14KVOE and 96.9fm.
