User:Apthornton/Rome Christmas Parade

The Rome Christmas Parade is an annual celebration of Christmas themed parade floats that bring about start of the Christmas season. Thousands of Georgians come to the parade yearly to enjoy the festivity of lights and floats. The parade is a great celebration to take your kids to, so they can see Santa Claus in his sleigh. The Rome Christmas Parade is a wonderful way to start your Christmas season and traditions.

Background
Rome’s Christmas parade has been the kick off to the Christmas season for over 60 years. Rome’s Christmas parade is the oldest and largest Christmas parade in Georgia. This Christmas celebration is a non-commercial and non-profit event organized by caring citizens. Hundreds of participants enter the parade each year some walking groups, others riding on floats, and even emergency vehicles. The floats are usually decorated to match the year’s theme.

There are only a few rules that Janet Byington, Rome Christmas Parade co-chair coordinator, has and they include horses having to wear diapers and no candy being thrown out to the crowd, but also said there can only be one jolly, old Saint Nick in the parade. Santa Claus is always an important highlight at the Rome Christmas Parade and is normally the last parade float in the precession.

This year’s Christmas parade theme is “A ‘Green’ Christmas- Recycle, Reuse, and Renew” and will be held on November 30, 2010.The rain date for the parade will be December 2, 2010. Participants are encouraged to use recycled and reused materials in the construction of their floats. Groups participating in this year’s parade will pay a twenty-five dollar registration fee. The proceeds that are obtained for the parade will be used to decorate Rome and Floyd County for the holiday season.

Themes of Past Years
• "A Family Christmas" – 2008

• "An Anniversary Christmas"- 2009

• "A 'Green' Christmas- Recycle, Reuse, and Renew" - 2010