The Ringgold Down Home Christmas Parade will be returning to Downtown Ringgold on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. The parade will begin on Nashville St. and process through downtown to the Ringgold Depot. Santa Claus will marshal the parade to the Depot where he will be available for pictures for the remainder of the festival. After 7 p.m. the Historic Ringgold Depot will be hosting a variety of children's choir and dance performances.
"The line up for vehicles in the parade will be along both lanes of Robin Road beginning at 4 p.m. and will extend all the way to Lafayette St.," said Dr. Ronal Graham who heads the Down Home Christmas Festival Committee. "We have a new mobile stage to help announce the parade so that is something people will be really impressed to see."
The City of Ringgold will decorate Nashville St. and the Ringgold Depot with holiday decorations. "With the major improvement projects going on in downtown it should be a great way to show off all the progress we're making," said Joseph Brellenthin, director of the Downtown Development Authority which helps sponsor the parade. "The sidewalks will be wider and easier for pedestrians to navigate, and we've already added parking lots near the downtown area so it will make it much easier for everyone coming to town, even Santa."
Businesses or organizations interested in signing up for the parade can contact 423-825-9975 or visit the website at graham-dental.com/events. Applications to take part in the parade should be returned to 896 Lafayette St. in Ringgold or faxed to Dr. Graham's office at 706-935-5355.