Area groups, businesses and organizations must submit their entry forms by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 20 in order to qualify for participation in the 2015 Oaklawn Rotary Christmas Parade, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 7 in downtown Hot Springs.
The official parade entry form, including parade rules, is available at www.oaklawnrotary.com and under the Our Community tab on the City of Hot Springs’ Web site, www.cityhs.net. Parade inquiries may be emailed to christmasparade@oaklawnrotary.com , and parade updates will be posted to www.facebook.com/oaklawnrotary .
This year’s parade theme is “The Art of Christmas,” featuring prominent Hot Springs artists Gary Simmons and Richard Stephens serving together as grand marshals. 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.
In addition to floats, marching groups and horses are allowed. Business vehicles must pull either a decorated trailer or float. Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. All entrants are required to send a representative to a mandatory pre-parade meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 29 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 parade rain date is Tuesday, December 8.