Special to the Review
The Christmas Parade will be different in some aspects this year, according to information received from the Athens Chamber of Commerce.
Every year, on the first Saturday of December, Light Up Athens hosts their Celebration on the Square, with the Athens Chamber of Commerce planning the parade of lights.
The year 2009 is no different. These festivities, including the Christmas Parade, will be Saturday, Dec. 5 with events beginning at 5:45 p.m.
What is different this year is how the Athens Chamber of Commerce will handle both the parade participants and the viewer’s safety.
This year, as the audience views “Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes,” coordinators are aiming to enhance the experience of the children coming to view the parade, while ensuring their safety.
A few positive changes have been made.
Some may have heard that the Chamber has banned candy from the parade. That is not true. Candy may be passed out by a parade entry at the curb.
In an attempt to keep children and parents from running to candy that did not make it to the sidewalk, please have a member of your organization walk along the curb to distribute candy. Organizers want every child to receive their holiday candy in the safest manner possible.
It is hoped that everyone can get behind the safety aspects of this year’s parade, as has the City of Athens and the Athens Police Department.
The Athens Chamber of Commerce also wants to keep all of the parade entries, whether they are floats, cars,
