Dozens of organizations are working to get the final touches on their floats for the annual City of Paducah Christmas Parade that will be held this Saturday, December 3 in downtown Paducah.  The parade begins at 5:00 p.m. at 14th and Broadway and travels down Broadway until it turns at 2nd Street and disbands at Monroe Street.  “Do You Hear What I Hear” is the theme for this year’s parade with music and lights required on all entries.  Santa Claus will make a special appearance at the end of the parade on the official Santa float.

This year the Christmas Parade is proud to honor Danny Orazine as Grand Marshal.  Orazine served 13 years (1994-2006) as judge-executive of McCracken County.   His wife and members of their student Sunday school group will be riding with him during the parade.  Paducah Mayor Bill Paxton says, “It is an honor to have Danny Orazine as Grand Marshal of the Paducah Christmas Parade.  During his tenure as county judge executive, he worked tirelessly for both county issues and city issues.  His role made our community better.”      

Parade entries will marshal on Broadway between 14th and 17th Streets, on Fountain Avenue between Broadway and Monroe, and on Jefferson between 13th and 17th Streets.  Streets will be closed in the staging area beginning at 3:00 p.m. on December 3.  Streets along the parade route will close at 4:30 p.m.  The Parks Services Department also asks the public to refrain from parking in the parade preparation area from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to help limit the congestion of vehicles and floats. 

The Parks Department will hold a mandatory meeting for parade participants at the Robert Cherry Civic Center on Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m.  Participants will be given their parade packets, numbers, and line up information.   

For more information about the Christmas Parade and Paducah Parks Services, call 444-8508.

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