It's Also Parade Time In Vinton

The streets of Vinton, Va., will be full of holiday cheer on Dec. 3. The town Chamber of Commerce will once again sponsor the annual Vinton Christmas Parade.

The festivities will start with the lighting of the Christmas tree by Mayor Brad Grose. Other pre-parade events will start at 6 p.m. This will be followed by the parade at 7 p.m.

The parade will begin by the Roanoke County Career Center, go along Gus Nicks Boulevard, travel downtown and end at the Vinton War Memorial.

Sylvia Dill, a local Vinton resident and parent, said, “Considering Vinton is a small town it rivals the parades put on in downtown Roanoke.”

“People of all ages will enjoy the parade, from infants to grandparents,” said the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Cunningham. The parade will consist of many marching acts from high school bands to dance groups. There will also be floats, antique vehicles and fire and rescue vehicles. Spots to participate in the parade are still open. Application forms can be found at www.vintonchamber.com.

The Christmas Parade event will also include activities before and after. The pre-parade event entertainment has not yet fully been chosen, but the Williamsburg High School Band will definitely be there. After the parade at the Vinton War Memorial, there will be a chance to make holiday cards for the veterans. Children of all ages may participate. Santa will also be there to great all of the parade goers.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are one of the main parts of the event. Santa rides on a fire truck with 10 to 12 lucky children. The fire tuck is the last part of the parade. The children get extremely excited with their anticipation for Santa. They cheer and wave as the truck goes by.

Santa said, “My favorite part about the parade is the children.” Santa also wanted to tell the community “Santa loves everyone and wants everyone to have a great Christmas.”

Dill also said, “Kids love it, they shut down the roads. It truly is a community event.”

“I think it’s just a wonderful activity here in the town of Vinton," Grose said. "It kind of gets the holiday season started. He also said, “I would like to emphasis how rewarding it is to see the expression on the children’s faces when they see Santa on the big fire truck, they really react to Santa. It really puts the whole evening and actually the whole holiday in perspective.”

In addition to the lighting of the Christmas tree Mayor Grose makes a short speech before the parade.

This is the exact route of the parade, according to Cunningham. From the Roanoke County Career Center the parade follows Gus Nicks Boulevard to Pollard Street and turns right. It makes a left onto Cleveland Avenue and turns left after one block onto Maple Street. Then follows Maple Street three blocks to Washington Avenue. It turns right onto Washington Avenue and follows until the Vinton War Memorial. Cunningham said. “The parade is a great way to kick off the Christmas season. It really makes the Christmas sprit with the lights and the music.”