Christmas parade is Dec. 9

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The Hillsboro Uptown Business Association Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 9 and once again it will be a lighted, evening event.

Breanna Howard, the new HUBA president, said the parade is being held in the evening again because there have been good turnouts since the parade moved to the evening a couple years ago.

In the event of severe weather or rain, the parade will be postponed until Saturday, Dec. 16.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. and is expected to arrive in the uptown area around 6:20 p.m. All parade units should be in the staging area by 4 p.m. to be judged. Driving units should stage at the Highland County Fairgrounds, where the gates will open at 11 a.m. Walking and marching units should be at the lower parking lot on the old high school campus by 5 p.m.

The deadline to register an entry in the parade is Friday, Dec. 1. Forms are available, and should be dropped of, at Appearances Salon, 107 W. Main St., Hillsboro.

This year’s theme is Christmas at the Movies and all vehicles entered are expected to be decorated in the theme.

The parade committee is currently accepting nominations for the parade grand marshal.

“If you know of someone in the community that would be a good candidate, please message us a brief explanation of who and why,” the HUBA Facebook page said.

HUBA will take nominations until Nov. 13 and will vote on the grand marshal at its meeting on the Nov. 14.

Howard said that while the Hillsboro Student Council will be selling hot chocolate and possibly other items in the uptown area during the parade, there will not be any other events associated with the parade this year.

However, on the morning of the parade HUBA will host the Ugly Christmas Sweater Run at 10 a.m. Visit HUBA’s Facebook page for more information.

The weekend before the parade, on Friday, Dec. 1, HUBA will host a First Friday Uptown Open House from 5-8 p.m. There will be horse-drawn wagon rides loading and unloading at the Highland County Courthouse, Christmas sing-a-longs, a Christmas tree lighting on the courthouse square, a bell choir, crafts and other activities, Howard said.

A Santa’s Workshop will be set up so children can visit with Santa Claus and kids will also be able to write letters to Santa and make reindeer food at two uptown businesses.

The Hillsboro United Methodist Church Bell Choir will be set up and performing in the uptown community room.

Howard said there will be a gingerbread house contest with both adult and children’s age groups, and many of the shops will be open late for Christmas shopping while also offering holiday treats.

This Friday, Nov. 3, HUBA will host another First Friday event from 5-8 p.m. to kickoff the holiday shopping season.

“Come up and visit the uptown businesses and stop into the uptown community room and check out some great vendors there, too,” HUBA’s Facebook page said.

Contact Howard at Appearances Salon if you are a vendor that would like a table at the uptown community room.

Then on Saturday, Nov. 18, HUBA will host the seventh annual Snowflake Pageant from 3-6 p.m. at the Southern State Community College auditorium in Hillsboro. Entry forms are available at Appearances Salon.

The event is for girls age 2 to 18 years. There is a $25 entry fee per contestant and five age groups: Tiny Miss Snowflake (2-4 years), Little Miss Snowflake (5-7 years), Junior Miss Snowflake (8-10 years), Snowflake Princess (11-14 years) and Snowflake Queen (15-18 years).

Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or [email protected].

This Sunrise Sunset Child Care Center float was one of many entered in the inaugural HUBA Lighted Christmas Parade a couple years ago when temperatures were unseasonably warm.
http://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/10/web1_Parade-pic-3.jpgThis Sunrise Sunset Child Care Center float was one of many entered in the inaugural HUBA Lighted Christmas Parade a couple years ago when temperatures were unseasonably warm.
HUBA again hosting lighted, evening event

By Jeff Gilliland

[email protected]

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