Online registration is now available for participation in the 2016 Oaklawn Rotary Christmas Parade at www.HotSpringsChristmasParade.com . The parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Hot Springs, with a rain date of December 6.
This year’s parade theme is “Visions of Christmas Long Ago.” Area groups, businesses and organizations are encouraged to prepare their float entries in accordance with the theme.
The parade entry fee of $50 will be used by the club to support several Garland County charities, including the Project Hope Food Bank. Trophies will be awarded for Best Decorated Float, Best Use of Theme, Best Use of Special Effects, Best Choreographed, and Most Decorated Non-Float.
"Each year, the Christmas Parade gets better and better,” said Lee Richardson, parade chair. “We encourage people to be creative with their entries and utilize lights, music, noises and action.”
In addition to floats, marching groups and horses are allowed. Business vehicles must pull either a decorated trailer or float. All entrants are required to send a representative to a mandatory pre-parade meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 27 at the Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace. Parade lineup numbers and additional information will be distributed at the meeting, and entry fees will be collected.
The official parade entry form and parade rules are available on the new parade website. Inquiries may be directed to HotSpringsChristmasParade@gmail.com .