‘A joyful experience’: Christmas parade, tree lighting a hit in Columbia
The Columbia Main Street Christmas Parade made a triumphant return Saturday, bringing thousands to the streets of downtown Columbia.
After a year lost to the pandemic, the parade was particularly important for Columbia Central High School senior Lawayne Stovall.
A saxophonist in the high school’s marching band, the parade marked the last chance for Stovall and his fellow classmates to walk together in the annual holiday tradition that spans more than 20 years.
Last year’s cancellation marked the first time that the parade was canceled in its 34-year history.
“It is a joyful experience,” Stovall told The Daily Herald just moments after passing through the Maury County Courthouse Square at the end of the parade route.
“It’s fun,” he said. “I love being with my friends and playing music. It is exciting when you are walking down the street and you see people that you know in the crowd. It is cool.”
This year, more than 70 floats and organizations paraded down the newly-expanded West 7th Street before the lights on the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree were illuminated for the very first time this season.
The husband-and-wife American country music duo Thompson Square performed their multi-platinum international hits on the city’s square as the evening’s celebration moved from the parade to a tree lighting ceremony.
It marked the first time both the parade and the tree lighting took place on the same night.
More: Will this year's Maury County holiday season be its biggest yet?
Columbia’s own Blair Gardner, the celebrated radio personality and owner of the downtown Columbia music venue The Mulehouse, again served as the emcee of the ceremony.
He was joined on stage by Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, who announced the winners of parade’s annual contest for best entries.
The top prize went to Roto Rooter of Columbia for a creative float inspired by Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."
This year’s event was held in partnership between the City of Columbia and the Columbia Main Street Corporation.
Since 1983, Columbia Main Street has been working to reenergize historic downtown Columbia by bringing life back to the place that was once the area’s primary hub of social and economic activity.
The local organization recently solidified a $100,000 Façade Improvement Grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development providing a means for some of Columbia’s most prominent buildings to receive a face-lift.
One of Tennessee’s first five Main Street communities, Columbia Main Street implements a rejuvenation process that involves four major components: a design plan that recaptures the historic flavor and beauty of the community through restoration, the attraction of a viable mix of businesses to cater to community needs, ongoing promotion of the downtown district, and a strong organization to spearhead the effort.
Reach Mike Christen at mchristen@c-dh.net. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram at @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia Christmas parade returns after year lost to pandemic
