Central Avenue, beginning at the junction of Whittington and Park avenues, will be closed to through traffic on Monday, December 7 for the annual Oaklawn Rotary Christmas Parade. Closing will begin at Whittington Avenue at 6 p.m., and Central Avenue will close at 6:20 p.m. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The parade will proceed south on Central Avenue, turning left at Orange Street and disbanding at the Transportation Plaza on Broadway Street. Motorists are asked to remove all parked cars from the parade route by 5 p.m. on parade day. To ensure safety and allow for the space taken by marching groups, parade attendees are asked to stand on the sidewalk and not on the street. Street vendors and throwing of candy are not allowed at the parade.
This year’s parade, featuring the theme “The Art of Christmas,” includes more than 60 entrants. Sharing the role of grand marshal are local artists Gary Simmons and Richard Stephens. Parade sponsors include Sanders Supply; Bank of the Ozarks; Superior Senior Care; Genesis Cancer Center; Seiz Signs; Ouachita Financial Advisors; Jordan Woosley Crone & Keaton; and Gentiva Home Health & Hospice, with support from the City of Hot Springs.