Entries Now Being Accepted for 2021 “Light Your Way” Christmas Parade
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), in partnership with Miracle on 7th Street, invites groups, organizations and businesses to participate in the fifth annual “Light Your Way” Christmas parade. Entries are now being accepted for the parade, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 in downtown Terre Haute.
Creative and unique entries aligned with the parade’s Christmas theme are being accepted from the community. Entries must be family-friendly, contain lights and portray a Christmas story or theme. Up to 80 entries will be accepted, and three awards will be given at the event: best overall, most creative and most lights.
“The Christmas parade is a great Terre Haute event kicking off the holiday season,” said John Mace, director of conferences and events at SMWC. “SMWC is a proud sponsor of this event, and we invite everyone to join us in celebrating our community this season.”
The 2021 parade route begins at 5th Street and Wabash Avenue, goes east on Wabash and continues until 9th Street. The area from 5th to 6th streets on Wabash Avenue is designated as a Sensory Friendly Area for those with sounds and food sensitivities.
Therefore, food items will not be distributed in this one block area and no sounds will be used. However, parade participants can hand out non-edible items.
The first parade in 2016 had strong support from the community, with more than 8,000 people in attendance and 60 participants. It has since grown to accommodate up to 80 participants featuring marching bands, decorated floats, dancers, honored guests and, of course, Santa Claus.
Two Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College students are serving as student organizers of this year’s event. Interns Ashlyn Hunley and Emma Brinson are hard at work preparing for the parade. “Our interns are the backbone of planning this community-wide event. We couldn’t do it without their efforts,” said Mace.
The deadline to submit parade entries is Nov. 29, 2021. This will allow time for approval of themes, which will ensure few theme duplicates.
