It’s beginning to look like a Very Merrill Christmas! The Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that registration is now open for the Annual Lighted Christmas Parade. The parade will be Saturday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. The Headline Sponsor this year is mBank.
This is a high-spirited community event involving businesses, clubs, schools, church groups, choirs and organizations. The parade has no theme other than all entries must be holiday/Christmas related and light-up! The parade is not judged, it has been created for enjoyment purposes and is done in the holiday spirit.
The rules are simple, but must be adhered to for the safety of all involved:
1. All parade units will be fully motorized; no walking is allowed.
2. All units will “light-up.”
3. There will only be one live Santa (the Chamber’s), so we do not confuse the young ones.
4. ABSOLUTELY NO candy or any other items can be thrown from moving entries along the route because of liability issues.
5. Entries with horses must provide a copy of liability insurance to the Chamber.
6. Parade entrants may identify their unit with their business name, but are asked not to commercialize them with sales, specials or discount signs.
New this year – Santa will light the Christmas tree at the new Banker’s Square Pocket Park in downtown Merrill on East Main Street rather than the wreath at the courthouse. So, at the end of parade, Santa will stop, and the crowd should filter down towards the park.
“We would also like to thank mBank for being our Headline Sponsor this year and welcome them to our community!” said Debbe Kinsey, Merrill Chamber CEO. “mBank is the new owner of the former Lincoln Community Bank. They are already great corporate citizens, having donated thousands to area non-profits/organizations since their arrival this fall. And now they are wishing everyone in Merrill the cheeriest of holidays by sponsoring the Very Merrill Christmas Parade!”
Register now! Each year, an estimated 5,000 people line the streets to watch the parade. To enter the parade, pick up a form at the Chamber office or go to their website and download the form www.merrillchamber.org. Complete and return the form to the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce, 705 N. Center Ave., Merrill, WI 54452 or fax to 715-539-2043 or email [email protected]. Entry deadline is Nov. 16. Entries after that date will not be given proper line-up coverage.