CRESTVIEW — Organizers have taken several steps to address complaints of frequent Crestview Christmas Parade delays and to prevent accidents such as the injury of a child who dashed in front of a float last year.
Adding four more blocks to the Dec. 6 parade and prohibiting disbanding on Wilson Street are among improvements.
Download the 2014 Christmas Parade application here>>
“This year we’re going to extend the parade route,” parade director Cal Zethmayr said. “There will be more spectator area for people to watch the parade, so they won’t be seven or eight deep trying to catch stuff.”
Main Street Crestview Association organizers working with Mayor David Cadle, Police Chief Tony Taylor and Public Works Director Wayne Steele, mapped out the new route, Zethmayr said.
EXTENDED ROUTE
The parade begins on Main Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, goes north to Cedar Avenue, turns west, and then heads south on Wilson Street to Beech Avenue.
The parade previously concluded at Main Street and Cedar Avenue. However, many parade goers watched from Cedar, which was not barricaded and was where a boy ran in front of a float.
Entrants will be prohibited from disbanding on Wilson Street before the railroad tracks, “because that holds up the parade,” Zethmayr said.
In addition, at least one representative from each marching unit must attend a Dec. 4 briefing at Warriors Hall, Zethmayr said. That's when entrants will receive line-up numbers.
“If you’re not at the meeting, you will not be in the parade,” Zethmayr said.
ONLINE APPLICATION
This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World,” Zethmayr said.
Applications — available at www.crestviewbulletin.com/news/community — are due Nov. 26, Zethmayr said. The application fee, which begins at $10 for walking groups, can be paid online using PayPal. The parade is limited to 125 participants.
Being a family-friendly event, parading organizations’ amplified audio is limited to Christmas music, Zethmayr said.
To assure spectator safety and keep the parade moving, Crestview Police Department auxiliary and full-time officers will be augmented by volunteer members of the North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club and the Community Emergency Response Team.
“We want to make it so everything moves smoothly,” Zethmayr said.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
WHAT:Crestview Christmas Parade
WHEN:5:30 p.m. Dec. 6
WHERE:Main Street, from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue north to Cedar Avenue, west on Cedar and then south on Wilson Street to Beech Avenue
COST:Entry fees for school bands or musical groups, free; walking groups, $10; antique car, motorcycle, bicycle or mini-vehicle, $20; decorated car, truck or large single vehicle, $30; and decorated float with towing vehicle or flatbed truck, $40.
NOTES:Download entry forms at www.crestviewbulletin.com/news/community, complete and email back. Payment by PayPal is accepted. At least one representative from each entry must attend a mandatory 6 p.m. Dec. 4 meeting at Warriors Hall, Whitehurst Municipal Building, 201 Stillwell Ave.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Organizers tweak Christmas parade to improve flow, safety
