ASHLAND — Thanksgiving is still on the horizon, but that doesn’t mean Ashland isn’t itching for Christmas.
The city’s fifth annual Christmas parade is happening again this year with some possible improvements.
“We’ve done a couple of tweaks,” said Sandra Tunnell, executive director of Ashland Main Street — the organization behind planning the event.
She said this year the road will be closed completely for safety and she is working with city officials to figure out a way to provide spectators with a steady flow of floats.
For example, the most significant critique from last year was that the parade last too long, she said.
“That seemed to be the biggest complaint — the length of the whole thing. It was a long night, we don’t want it to go forever and ever. So we’re maybe not going to let people stop to do performances,” Tunnell said.
It’s still a bit early, but already the parade — capped at 75 floats — has reached 35 floats.
Lighting the Christmas tree at Corner Park will crown the evening, along with another fireworks display over city hall.
The Christmas parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3.
Aesthetically, expect more of the same, with floats competing for Best of Theme.
The parade’s theme this year is “What does Christmas mean to me?”
“We’re kinda leaving it open to interpretation. It’s been great to see how people are playing with it. We have one group — well, I don’t want to give it away. But they said they can’t agree, so they’re doing what they all think it means. Which I think is really sweet,” Tunnell said.
Floats will be placed in two different divisions, commercial and non-commercial, and there will be awards for the top three floats in each.
Storefronts in Downtown Ashland will also participate by decorating their windows along with the theme, she said.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller has been working to make the city’s Downtown area “feel and look like a Hallmark movie.”
The mayor said last year’s donation of $100,000 from Dick and Ronda Poorbaugh has allowed the city to make some additional decoration purchases.
The mayor shared that lighted garlands will once again be strung over Main Street.
He said years ago the look existed because of guide wires that were installed on buildings — buildings that either don’t exist anymore or have been altered.
This time, the lighted garland will be strung on refurbished light poles.
“So they will run from one side of the street to the other. And there are six sets on Main Street. They’ll have white, twinkly lights. In the center will be giant wreaths wrapped in red velvet bows trimmed in gold,” he said.
One of the purchases includes two, 16-foot toy soldiers that will be placed on each side of the city’s new “Ashland” archway that stands on the east end of Main Street between Union and Arthur streets.
The decorations are expected to be strung during the week before the Christmas parade, Miller said. That includes the traditional planting of small evergreen trees in the planters that line Main Street, stringing light poles with twinkly lights and garlands.
Last year’s additions — a 12-foot wreath hanging on 16 E. Main St., a 22-piece Nativity scene and a Christmas ornament pyramid-like sculpture — will also return this year.
