Published: December 01, 2008 01:05 pm      

Christmas on Main scheduled Friday

Parade, activities have "Sounds of Christmas" theme

A week from today, Main Street will be packed with mittened bystanders, booming marching bands and plenty of glittering, festive lights. Yes, it’s time for Christmas on Main, one of the best-attended parades of the year.

“This is a wonderful community event and it’s so unique as a night parade with the lights,” said Rebecca Webster, executive director of London Downtown. “The community participation is great. We’ve been pleased with the community support and donations from our businesses and organizations and churches.”

This year’s theme is The Sounds of Christmas, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. Choirs will gather on the steps of the Laurel County Courthouse, with groups performing beloved carols.

Music was also the inspiration for this year’s floats, which are based on famous Christmas songs.

L & N Federal Credit Union has chosen “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” for its gliding creation.

“Some people envision that as girls in poodle skirts,” said Branch Manager Dana Johnson. “But we see that as children in rocking chairs.”

Johnson admitted Tuesday that L & N employees still have a lot of work to do.

“We haven’t started yet,” she laughed. “We’ll be pulling the trailer in on Monday, but we have all of our supplies and we’re ready to go with our staple gun.”

Somerset Community College also is set to wheel out a float, which will be a replica of London’s buildings. Kroger will present “Frosty the Snowman.”

“It’s going great,” Store Manager Larry Roark said. “We’ve got our Santa sleigh, we’ve got our Frosty the Snowman outfit, so we’re just excited and can’t wait ’til Dec. 5 to show it off.”

The parade, which extends from London Elementary to Carnaby Square, will be headed up by the winner of The Sentinel-Echo’s annual poetry contest, whose winner gets to act as grand marshal of the parade. That lucky boy or girl will be accompanied in a horse-drawn carriage by Mayor and Mrs. Rudder.

Following the parade, the festivities continue at the London-Laurel County Farmers Market. There, frothy hot chocolate, egg nog and cider will warm cold hands while kids wait for their turn to take a picture with jolly Santa Claus. After the line has started to thin, a choir will start singing around London’s signature Christmas tree. Its lights will be lit by the winner of the Christmas on Main coloring contest.

The parade begins at 7 p.m.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.