Christmas parade and extravaganza plans are settled
By LOU ANTONELLI - Managing Editor
Saturday, November 21, 2009 12:48 PM CST
Plans have been made for the annual Mount Pleasant Christmas on the Square Extravaganza - jointly held by the City of Mount Pleasant, the Mount Pleasant Main Street, and the Mount Pleasant-Titus County Chamber of Commerce - to be held Saturday December 5, 2009.
The day's activities kick off with the Junior Auxiliary Tour of Homes from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., followed by the nighttime Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Rotary Club, which starts at 5:30 p.m.
There has been a change in the route for annual parade this year. The route follows the same pattern as in previous years until it reaches the square. Instead of a right on 1st Street to the Old Sam Parker Stadium, it makes a left wrapping around the courthouse and back to the Civic Center.
"This route change was made to reduce confusion at disbanding and help improve safety of parade participants as well as spectators," said Mount Pleasant Community Services Director Jacob Hatfield. "It is great to need improvements due to participation and growth of this exciting community event over the years. "
The parade will begin at 5:30 from the Civic Center Parking lot at 1800 N. Jefferson and will travel south on Jefferson. The route will follow normal traffic patterns to merge right as Jefferson changes to Madison and continues south.
As the parade approaches the Titus County Courthouse square, it will then make a left turn onto East 1st Street heading east to North Jefferson and turn left on to North Jefferson. At a northward direction the parade completes a pass around the Titus County Courthouse Square to East 3rd Street.
At the Jefferson and East 3rd Street Intersection, the parade will make a right turn heading east to Washington. The parade will turn left on to Washington and head north, crossing the Highway 67 Intersection (16th Street) and proceed to the Washington entrance of the Civic Center to disband.
Spectators are not encouraged to use Washington for viewing the parade, notes Hatfield; East 3rd will complete the spectator route.
Washington is considered at this time a relief route for the procession to return to the Civic Center.
The Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune will have the People's Choice Float Award for the second year. Votes may be turned in to Downtown Businesses or the Daily Tribune Office.
There will be a huge slide for the kids, courtesy of the City of Mount Pleasant and Mount Pleasant Main Street. Of course, Santa will be in the Courthouse with his Chamber of Commerce "Helper Elves".
Downtown shopping will be available until 9:00 p.m. that evening. Non-profit organization booths will be around the courthouse square.
The NTCC Eagles baseball team will be selling chili, the Chapel Hill National Honor Society will be selling cold drinks and cakes; the Chapel Hill High School Senior Class will have hot chocolate and cookies; East New Hope Baptist Church will have popcorn and popcorn balls, the TRMC Foundation will be selling holiday ornaments, the Chamber of Commerce will be selling cookbooks, the Relay 4 Life will have hot dogs; the Mount Pleasant High School Class of 2014 will be selling nachos, the Main Street Merchants will be selling bell tower bricks, Tennison Youth will be making hamburgers. Booth spaces are still available.
There will also be live music performances by Corprew Elementary Choir, the Chapel Hill Band, the Chapel Hill Choir and various other caroling groups. Performance spots are also still available.
