There will be 60 entries making their way down Main Street on Dec. 5 during McMinnville’s annual Christmas Parade.
Start time is set for 2:30 p.m.
Parade participants are encouraged to stay within the theme of “A Storybook Christmas.” It can be any family friendly Christmas movie, book or story. Movie and book suggestions include “Elf,” “A Christmas Story,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Polar Express,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Float entries are not limited to those suggestions.
Parade participants are urged to be careful not to include a Santa Claus in their entry. There should only be one St. Nick in the parade and he takes his place of honor riding at the end.
Lineup for the parade begins at noon at the Civic Center. The parade runs the length of Main Street and ends at the water tower beside the Farmers Market. During the parade, candy can be handed out -- not thrown.
Up for grabs this year will be cash prizes totaling $1,325:
• People’s Choice Award – $200
• Best Band – $100
• Church/ civic/ community organization/ large non-profit organization – first place $150, second place $100, third place $50
• Small club/ non-profit (less than 20 members) – first place $75, second place $50, third place $25
• School sponsored group – first place $200, second place
• Businesses – first place a trophy and free entry into the 2016 Christmas parade, second place a trophy.
• Horse and rider club/ mules or horses and hitch – first place $50, second place $25
• Antique car or truck – first place $50, second place $25
• Most unusual vehicle – first place $50, second place $25
Noticeably changed from years past are trophies for businesses rather than cash prizes.
“We decided to remove the cash prizes for businesses and put that money toward additional second- and third-place cash prizes for organizations,” said Kendra Foust, McMinnville Parks and Recreation program coordinator. “Because we removed the cash prize for businesses, there will be no entry fee for businesses into the parade. This is something we’re trying this year just to see how it goes.”