Special to the Herald/Review
In less than a month, the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating a special event.
Dec. 6 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Annual Holiday Parade.
|
|
It is remarkable to think this community has been turning out for half a century to enjoy this festive calendar highlight.
Since 1958, area businesses and organizations have come together in December to parade through the city, and the chamber of commerce is proud to be a part of that.
We believe Sierra Vista’s parade is the oldest in this state, and we have no doubt it will continue for many generations to come.
As many of you now know, this year’s parade will be held at night for the first time in its history.
We wanted to give a new time slot a try to help celebrate what will be a momentous occasion.
The route will remain the same — from the Main Gate, along Fry Boulevard to Coronado Drive — but the parade will start at 5:30 p.m., just a few minutes after the sun sets that day.
Therefore, we are asking all participants to make their entries shine, in keeping with this year’s theme, “A Christmas Night of Lights.”
There are many successful night light parades held across Arizona, including in Douglas, Tombstone and Tucson, and we believe Sierra Vista’s will be just as memorable, thanks to the wonderful community spirit we all enjoy.
Entries are already coming in from groups and businesses who are enthusiastically embracing the new time and theme.
Many, it seems, are really going to town and lighting up their floats, vehicles and even participants, in imaginative and fun ways.
The parade is open to the whole community, but we particularly encourage chamber of commerce members to participate.
The chamber is always looking for new ways it can help its member businesses, and the parade is no exception.
One of the aims of the event has been to encourage local people to visit city businesses after the parade and begin their Christmas shopping.
This year, we are encouraging residents to spend Dec. 6 in and around Sierra Vista, shopping locally for the festive season, before ending their day with the parade and maybe dinner at a local restaurant.
Spectators can also grab a bite to eat at the chili cook-off taking place at the Kmart parking lot that afternoon and through the parade.
The chamber will be running a promotion throughout that day, involving a VIP guest, which we believe will get consumers out and about. There will be more to follow on that at a later date.
The parade also presents businesses with a wonderful marketing opportunity.
After all, those who participate are exposed to thousands of people, and potential customers, lining the parade route.
The deadline for early registration is fast approaching. So please get your entries to the chamber of commerce by Nov. 21. After that date, entry fees will rise by $10.
Registration forms, along with safety information and decoration tips, are available at the chamber of commerce office at 21 E. Wilcox Drive or by visiting www.sierravistachamber.org.
Also taking place that weekend will be the annual performance of “The Nutcracker” by the Sierra Vista Ballet, which is always a treat for families during the holiday season.
The organizers kindly agreed to move their traditional Saturday night performance to Dec. 5, so both events can be enjoyed by the local community.
A second performance will take place at Buena Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. on Dec. 7.
Tickets cost $15 for adults, $8 for children (ages 8 to 12), and children under 8 will be admitted free. They are available to buy at the chamber of commerce.
SUSAN TEGMEYER is president/CEO of the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce. Contact the chamber at 458-6940, or at its office at 21 E. Wilcox Drive. Look for Tegmeyer’s column every other Sunday in the Herald/Review.
