83rd Annual
Concord Christmas Parade And 74th Annual Kannapolis Christmas Parade
In 1928 the Concord Merchants
Association presented the first Concord Christmas Parade. At that time and well into the sixties, the parade was held on Wednesday
afternoons when Concord’s businesses were closed. Parade Marshals were chosen from the local business community
and for their leadership and contributions to the city. The parade traveled north from Corban Avenue to Church Street
and was viewed by thousands.
As time progressed
the parade became the responsibility of Cabarrus Events Association, a non profit, volunteer organization which also hosts
Village Fest, Kannapolis Cruise In and the Kannapolis Christmas Parade.
Change is inevitable, but some traditions remain. Although the Concord parade is now held on the Saturday before
Thanksgiving, Parade Marshals are still chosen for their contributions to our community. The parade travels south, from Lake
Concord Road and Church Street, down Union Street and ends at Corban Avenue. And to our delight, the parade is still
viewed by tens of thousands.
Begining in 1937, Kannapolis' parade was held
on a Tuesday afternoon, again when merchants were closed. Now our Kannapolis
Parade is a beautiful event produced at night with all the entries illuminated. The colorful lights of each entry add
to the excitement of this parade as it travels down Main Street, 1st Street and West Avenue.
Cabarrus Events Association is proud to host the Concord and Kannapolis Christmas parades. On these
pages you will find all the information needed to enter and contribute to these annual Holiday events.
Thank you for participating in this year’s events.
Sincerely,
Cabarrus Events Association
Dennis Caudill
John Howard
Karen Bonzo
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Lisa Blackwelder
Brenda Drye
Secretary Executive
Director
Christmas Parade
Rules and Guidelines
1. The 83rd Annual Concord Christmas Parade will be held November 19, 2011 and will start promptly
at 2:30 pm. Completed entry forms and fees must be received by Friday,
November 4, 2011. The number of entries is limited and will be honored on a first come basis.
2. The 74th Annual Kannapolis Christmas Parade will be
held on December 10, 2011 and will start promptly at 6:00 pm. Completed entry forms and fees
must be received by Friday, November 25,
2011.
3. Cabarrus Events Association has provided a link
on how you can inexpensively build your own float. Please visit our website at cabarrusevents.org.
4. Professional Floats are rented through Cabarrus Events Association. Float designs can be
viewed at Caudill Chiropractic Clinic, 2406 S. Cannon Blvd., Kannapolis during the hours of 9:00 am to 11:30 am. (See Schedule
of Fees). Professional floats for the Kannapolis Parade will be lighted.
5. All entries in the Kannapolis
Parade MUST BE ILLUMINATED with Christmas lights.
This includes support vehicles, fire
trucks, cars, golf carts, bands,
walking units, horses,
floats, etc. Lights must run along the
sides of the float entries as well as any props on the
floats. Please have your participants lighted well enough to be seen by spectators without
the use of glaring spot lights.
6. Walking
units must continue moving forward. Please choreograph any performance to maintain forward movement.
7. Throwing or tossing candy or other items from any vehicle is strictly prohibited.
8. There will be only one Santa Claus in the parade and will be provided by Cabarrus Events Association.
9. Horse entries will be provided a special area to unload and load. Entrants
are required to clean these areas before departing.
10. All animal entries
must have a member designated to immediately clean up after them.
11.
There is no charge for School Band, EMS, Fire, Police or Military entries. Schools with participating bands may have five
(5) additional entries at no charge.
12. Entries that do not adhere
to the guidelines stated will be pulled from the parade and will not be allowed to participate in future parades.
