Two Christmas parades march on Saturday

Local News

December 4, 2009

FROM STAFF REPORTS

The first two Christmas parades for Edgecombe County residents to enjoy are taking place Saturday in Pinetops and Princeville.

Pinetops' parade begins at 10 a.m., with Princeville's beginning at 2 p.m. This mark's the 37th straight year Pinetops has held its annual Christmas parade. This will be Princeville's 11th annual parade.

Pinetops Assistant Town Administrator Brenda Harrell said the town plans to still have the parade even in the event of rain. "It wouldn't be a matter of rescheduling" with so little time left before Christmas, she added. "We hope it turns out to be a nice day," but if it does rain, Harrell said she hopes people could enjoy the parade in the wet weather.

Linda Worsley, the interim director of the Princeville Welcome Center and Museum, said she is unsure whether the parade will continue if it rains. The current plan is to cancel Princeville's parade if it rains, but she might decide to just have it despite it. She also said that Christmas is too near to reschedule the town's parade, since "everybody already has plans."

Pinetops' parade route will begin at Ninth Street, run along Hamlet Street and end at the N.C. 122 intersection.

Princeville's parade route will begin near Walston Street, run through South Main Street and then turn onto Mutual Boulevard.

Tarboro's 34th annual Christmas parade, organized by the Tarboro Edgecombe Chamber of Commerce, begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. The deadline for entering the Tarboro parade is today, but Chamber Office Manager JoBeth Cobb said she would work with people past the deadline who show an interest in being in the parade.

Entries for Tarboro's parade are $40 for business Chamber members, $60 for non-Chamber members, $25 for non-profit Chamber members and $40 for non-profit, non-Chamber members.

The price to sponsor a professional float is $425 for Chamber members and $450 for non-Chamber participants.