The Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that they are now accepting applications for their 19th annual Lighted Holiday Parade. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.
Each year, an estimated 6,000 people line the streets to watch this Merrill tradition. This high-spirited parade is a community event and is open to all businesses, clubs, schools, church groups, choirs and organizations. The parade has no theme other than all entries must be holiday/Christmas related and they must light up. The parade floats are not judged as the parade has been created for enjoyment purposes and is done in the spirit of the holiday season. Immediately following the parade, Santa will flip the switch to light up the Lincoln County Courthouse trees decked out with more than 50,000 holiday lights. The tree lighting will be followed by a fireworks display.
The holiday parade rules are simple: 1) All parade units must be fully motorized, no walking is allowed; 2) All units must 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 the moving entries along the parade route; 5) Entries with horses must provide a copy of liability insurance; 6) Parade entrants may identify their unit with business name, but are asked not to commercialize them with sales, specials or discount signs.
The deadline for float entry is Nov. 19. Applications are available at the Merrill Chamber of Commerce, 705 N. Center Ave., Merrill, WI 54452. Entries submitted after this date will not be given proper line-up coverage. For more information contact the Chamber at (715) 536-9474 or by email at [email protected].