Parade to light up Main Street

Utilizing the first weekend in December, Thompson Falls welcomes the yuletide season with the Annual Christmas on Main Street. While Saturday, Dec. 2, looks to be a very busy day for those wanting to keep up with the festivities, the tradition began decades ago with a parade.

The Christmas on Main Street Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce has invited groups, churches, businesses and individuals to join the holiday procession each year. Float entries have entertained and given onlookers pause for thought as floats have ranged from hilarious to highlighting the reason for the season. Passing at parade crawl down Main Street have been cranes made to look like Christmas trees, enormous tractors bedecked in Christmas lights, and even Santa in a bathtub enjoying a bubble bath. Weather for the event in the past has been just as varies, finding parade goers without jackets during balmy temperatures in the 50’s to sub-zero temps with onlookers huddling inside Main Street businesses (an option that has become popular thanks to the friendly establishments opening their doors after hours to welcome friends in the community.

This year is looking to be another for the books, and attendees can expect to see some floats decorated in the theme, “Gingerbread Jubilee.” Joanne Burk from First Security Bank is in her ninth year organizing the event and hopes to see a few more parade entry applications hit her desk before the week is out. “We set a goal last year to beat the number of registered floats,” she shared, “but, so far, we only have 21 signed up – last year we had 31.” Burk is optimistic that those numbers will rise. She will be accepting entry applications at First Security Bank until the bank closes Friday evening.

Featured newcomers to the float procession are Brynn Kenyon’s young rug-cutters, ‘Dance Xplosion,’ and the students and staff from Reflections Academy. Dance Xplosion will tout the dance moves of the young choreography-footed girls in the weekly class. Following a steady flow of remodeling and improvements since taking over the business, Riverfront Motel representatives have found some extra time to participate and entertain the community.

Entrants in the parade will vie prizes in categories such as brightest entry, best costumes and best overall.

For more information stop by to chat with Joanne Burk at First Security Bank, or call 827-6225.