The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation has announced the theme for this year’s downtown Jamestown holiday parade. The Tinseltown Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration, presented by The Resource Center, will feature pre-parade musical entertainment, a traditional tree lighting ceremony with Mayor Sam Teresi, and a fireworks display above the Spring Street parking ramp. Applications to participate in the parade are now being accepted and are available for download online.
Pictured from left: Steve Waterson, TRC Director of Public Relations, Selina Phillips, TRC Executive Assistant, Terri Johnson, TRC Director of Rehabilitation, Employment and Community Services, Greg Lindquist, Executive Director for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and Heather Brown, TRC Assistant Executive Director.
The Tinseltown Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration will be held on Friday, December 4, beginning at 6:30 pm. The parade itself will begin on the Third Street Bridge and continue down Third Street to City Hall. Parade line up will begin at 5 pm on West Third Street between Hallock Street and Porter Avenue (Farm Fresh Plaza).
“We try to choose a parade theme that will appeal to everyone and will be easy for all ages to participate in,” said Edwin Rodriguez Jr., events and marketing associate for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. “We selected Tinseltown Christmas to make sure we include modern holiday classics along with the traditional films we all know and love. This year’s parade celebrates your favorite holiday movies, your way,” said Rodriguez. Participants are encouraged to choose any of their favorite holiday movies to reenact in the parade, from traditional films like Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas Story to modern classics like Frozen, Elf, and more.
“The Christmas Parade is a wonderful example of our community coming together, and it is our pleasure to support this event which reaches so many in the Jamestown area,” said Denise Jones, Executive Director for The Resource Center. “TRC encourages our staff, and the individuals we support in participating and giving back to our community, and the Holiday Parade pairs very nicely with our long-going support of the Toys for Tots program. We appreciate the extensive amount of effort Jamestown Renaissance and many other community organizations and businesses invest in making our community a great place to live, work, and play,” said Jones.
Along with The Resource Center, the Tinseltown Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration would not be possible without the following: Parade Fireworks sponsored by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation; Official Transportation of Santa sponsored by Shults Auto Group; Official Grand Marshall Transportation sponsored by Elite Kreations Auto Detailing; Additional support for the event is provided by Southern Tier Xpress and the 38 libraries of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. Special thanks to the City of Jamestown, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, Gebbie Foundation, Jamestown Up Close, and Jamestown YMCA.
Other events scheduled for that weekend in partnership with the downtown holiday parade:
- Santa will be ending his parade travels on Friday, December 4, at the Santa’s Family Workshop event hosted by the Jamestown YMCA from 7 to 9 pm. Santa’s Family Workshop includes holiday activities, food, and more.
- The Southern Tier Xpress hockey team is hosting an Ugly Xmas Sweater night at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena after the parade. Puck drop is at 8:30 pm. Wear your best ugly holiday sweater for a chance to win great prizes!
- Toys for Tots will be accepting applications on December 4 from 1 to 4 pm and December 5 from 9 am to noon at the Lillian Vitanza Ney Renaissance Center at 119-121 W. Third Street. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and bring identification for themself and all children along with proof of household income.
- The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts will be showing Elf starring Will Farrell on Saturday, December 5, at 2:00 pm. The showing is sponsored by Jamestown Up Close.
To sign up for the Tinseltown Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration, CLICK HERE to download the appropriate application.