The Downtown Christmas Parade committee hosted a contest amongst all 5-8 grade students in Jefferson County to create a theme for this 
year’s Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 2nd. Seventh grader, Cody Jenkins, from McClellan Grade School, submitted the chosen theme, “No Place Like Home for Christmas: Honoring Our Military”. Jenkins wanted a Christmas theme that honored our veterans and emphasized being home for the holidays. Jenkins will receive a pizza party for his class and get to ride in the parade. The community is invited to embrace this year’s theme by honoring our military in their floats.
The “No Place Like Home for Christmas: Honoring Our Military” Parade will begin on 7th Street near the former Mount Vernon Township High School at 5 PM and end at the corner of 13th and Main, where the lighting ceremony of the Downtown Christmas tree will be held. A Santa story reading, cookie decorating, free hot chocolate, concessions, activities and more will follow the parade.
The festivities are supported by Mount Vernon Convention and 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 Visitors Center at (618) 242-3151.
