Downtown Christmas Parade Theme Announced
- VERNON ILL, October 9- The Downtown Christmas committee hosted a contest among all 5-8thgrade students in Jefferson County to create a theme for this year’s Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1st. Eighth grader, Ethan Verdeyen, from Casey Middle School, submitted the winning theme, “Christmas Through the Ages”. Verdeyen will receive a pizza party for his class and get to ride in the parade. The theme will celebrate the kick-off of the Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County Bicentennial in 2019. Parade entries are encouraged to be creative with Christmas floats from any time period between 1819 and today. Although not required, entries incorporating Jefferson County or Mt. Vernon history will add a nice element to the parade in celebration with the Bicentennial.
The “Christmas Through the Ages” Parade will begin at 5 p.m. The route will start on Main from 7th St. to 10th St., then continue from 10th to Broadway, and Broadway from 10th back to 7th St. Immediately following the parade, head to 9th St. between Main and Broadway for the Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony, free hot cocoa and popcorn, visits with Santa in his cottage, crafts, food concessions, cookie decorating, and singing. Weather permitting, a vendor fair will be held from 12- 4 p.m. outdoors on 9th St. between Broadway and Main.
The festivities are supported by Mount Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation, downtown merchants, and other community businesses on the committee. For more information on the event, including parade entry forms, please contact Melynda Breeze at (618) 242-2800 or contact the Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau at (618) 242-3151.
