L A W R E NC E
1HH
Journal-World
Thursday, November 23, 2023
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pre sen ts :
s g n i n e happ Shutterstock Photo
ntown; w do of s et re st e th on es ov ho The clip-clop of nta down; the fire crew working to help Sa al shows, ason the concerts, the vespers, the se ass. Street aglow. M the lights on the trees that set ay cheer lid Here’s our guide to Lawrence’s ho year after year. and events that make memories
The big eve nts
Parade, sales, shows & more By Chad Lawhorn
At this point, we have five or six new (parade entries) that have never been here n horse talk, the Law- before. So that’s really rence Old Fashioned Christmas Parade may exciting.” lll
clawhorn@ljworld.com
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Journal-World FIle Photos
2022’S LAWRENCE OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS PARADE AND SANTA RESCUE ARE PICTURED BELOW. This year’s parade is scheduled for Dec. 2, and the Santa Rescue is Nov. 24.
officially be long in the — Parade organizer Marty Kennedy tooth. The all-horse-drawn parade will turn 30 auctioneer Mark Elston sets years old when it takes up his announcing booth in to the streets of downtown the park. (No, you don’t have Lawrence at 11 a.m. on Dec. 2. to worry about buying a horse The calendar is only one in- if you scratch your nose at the dication of the staying power wrong time.) of the unique event. Longtime In terms of what visitors will organizers of the nonprofit pa- see once they stake out a spot on rade have a host of memories the parade route, many people that get triggered by a particu- describe it as one of the most lar horse, wagon or driver. unique holiday parades in AmerThere’s one buggy driver, ica. The parade, always the first for instance, who always draws Saturday of December, has frea smile from organizer Marty quently been called the largest Kennedy. The woman has been holiday horse-drawn parade in participating in the parade for the country. 11 years, and Kennedy is always This year, Kennedy said orable to remember the year sim- ganizers are pretty confident ply by asking how old her first- they’ll have at least 50 entries in born child is. The woman was the parade. pregnant for her first parade “At this point, we have five appearance, but that didn’t stop or six new ones that have nevher from riding on a bouncy er been here before,” Kennedy wagon then or since. said. “So that’s really exciting.” “Now she has four kids,” There are a few entries that Kennedy said. are the opposite of new sights. Don’t worry, though. If you at- Robin Dunn of the event busitend the parade there’s no risk of ness Dunn’s Landing in rural you gaining more kids, but it is a Wellsville, has had her busigreat event for both young and ness’ stagecoach in the parade old alike. Kennedy said organiz- every year except for the iners are hoping that Massachu- augural parade. She even gets setts Street through downtown extra credit for bringing the Lawrence is filled with families stagecoach to downtown Lawon parade day. rence in 2020, when organizers The parade route officially had to cancel the parade due begins at Seventh and Massa- to the pandemic. She drove chusetts streets, although some the coach down Massachupeople catch a glimpse of the setts Street on what normally parade by lining select streets would have been parade day. in East Lawrence, where horses Kennedy said Dunn is among “And travel from the Douglas County the longtime participants who beautif there are just some ully decorated wagons,” Fairgrounds to the downtown will be participating in this Kenned y said. area. year’s parade. The parade got its start in 1993 Prime viewing locations are Several other longtime par- when local hotelier Rob Philanywhere along Massachu- ticipants also will be on hand, lips and others thought a horsesetts Street from Seventh to plus there likely will be several drawn parade during the Christ15th streets. Kennedy said a unusual horse-drawn coaches mas season would be a unique particularly good area to view in this year’s parade, Kennedy way to get visitors to downtown. the parade is in South Park, said. While entries weren’t The parade had 21 entries that just south of 11th and Mas- yet completed at the Journal- year. In sachusetts streets. The city World’s deadline, past coaches grown previous years it has to as many as 70 entries, places bleachers in the park have included covered wagons, and has drawn national publicity for parade-watchers, and pa- specialty medical coaches, and in a variety of travel magazines rade announcer and Lawrence even an 1890s English taxi. and programs.
More recent ly, the parade has been run by a group of comm unity-m inded organi zers who formed a nonprofit entity to manage the event. The group attract s sponso rs throug hout the comm unity to help pay for the event. Kennedy said the event has had such a good long run for a variety of reason s, but one is fairly simple to unders tand: “It is a fun time,” he said.
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