See the list of holiday events and submit your own, at www.mysaline.com/events
UPDATE DEC 5, 2023
The Downtown Benton Merchants announced the winners of the Saline County Christmas Parade. There were so many entries this year and a huge crowd as well. Lots of people running floats said they ran out of candy to hand out – before they were even to the end of the first street. MySaline worked hard on our float, but it was obvious to us that someone else was going to bring home the win. We were just happy to be there.
Read the list of winners below. Entrants were judged according to the parade theme, “Candy Land. Judges made decisions based on originality, boldness, creativity, and general enthusiasm for the theme.
Jennifer Donnor of The Oil Shop on Market Street was one of the organizers among the Downtown Benton Merchants. She gave the list of winners:
3rd Place:
Advanced Alarm Technologies
(click image to go to photos on FB)
2nd Place:
HBA Homes
(click image to go to photos on FB)
1st Place:
Northside Church of Christ
(click image to go to video on FB)
Congratulations everyone!
See MySaline’s list of all the events going on in Saline County at www.mysaline.com/events
PREVIOUSLY:
The Saline County Christmas Parade is coming up once again in Downtown Benton. The Downtown Business Partnership revealed the theme for the 2023 parade is “Candy Land.” Come to downtown Benton on Monday, December 4th. Grab a spot early on the sidewalk to see the parade begin at 6 p.m.
Parade floats will be handing out candy and Santa will be there too. Stay after the parade to see Santa in the Saline County Courthouse gazebo on Main Street.Register to have a float in the parade or just come watch. Watchers should park and walk to a spot on the side of Market Street, North Street or Main Street. Come early to get a good spot. The parade route is shown below. Click the image to enlarge it.
Parade Route. Click to enlarge.
Want to be a float or other entry in the parade? Here’s how:
Register to participate in the Saline County Christmas Parade, using the form embedded below. Be sure to use the navigation arrows to see the rules on page 2, or scroll past the PDF to see the rules in text form.
Get the form
- Pick it up at Paradise Pets, The Oil Shop, or Benton Chamber of Commerce.
Entry fee
- Each entry is $10.00, to be included with the form at time of registration.
Turn in the form
- Entries will be accepted until Friday, December 1st, 2023. Drop them off at the Benton Chamber of Commerce, Paradise Pets, or The Oil Shop.
Parade Rules
- Date: Monday, December 4, 2023
- Start Time: 6pm – Line up any time prior to 5:30 (earlier the better)
- Theme: Candy Land
- Organizer: Downtown Benton Partnership
• All competing entries should decorate their floats in the theme of Candy Land. If possible, entries should incorporate lights. This makes for a brighter and more festive parade. Let your imagination and creativity run wild! The judges will be on the lookout for the details that make yours special.
• 🎅🤶🚫No one is permitted to dress as Mr. & Mrs. Claus; other costumes are encouraged.
• Candy may be handed out, not thrown.
• Entries should boldly display the name of their organization on both the right and left side for judges and newspaper coverage.
• Entries may be floats, buses/vans, cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, carriages, bands, and supervised animals.
• Each organization is responsible for the safety of children taking part in their entry. Make sure children have constant supervision. Do Not allow children to Hang off the sides of entries. Flashlights are encouraged.
Line Up
• Parade entries do not line up in numerical order.
• Numbers are given only to those competing.
• Do not approach the line up by coming from Market St. This creates a traffic jam as entries attempt to turn around and line up. Please approach from the direction of the railroad tracks on one of the side roads. Most entries can line up on either side of Market St. Some large groups will wait on the side roads. As the parade begins, entries will alternate right and left sides as needed. Here’s a map for where to go:
THIS IS THE PARADE LINEUP MAP FOR BEFORE PARADE. Click to enlarge.
• Law enforcement will direct traffic.
• If possible, come as a group; this minimizes confusion and lost children.
• Avoid large gaps of space between entries in the parade. One very slow entry can stop the parade. Go at a reasonable, safe speed for your entry. Do not build a float that has to go at a snail’s pace.
Parade Route
• Begins on Market St at CW Lewis Stadium parking lot. The Benton Jr. ROTC begins the procession. After Market St, the parade turns right on North and right on Main. Santa will get off at the Courthouse on Main to greet children. Entries should not stop and disband until they pass White’s Furniture on Ashley St.
The parade route is shown below. Click the image to enlarge it.
THIS IS THE PARADE FLOAT ROUTE FOR DURING PARADE. Click to enlarge.
Contest and ID Numbers
• If competing for “Best in Show,” please indicate that on your registration form. Only those that specify will be given a number by phone in advance. Display your number on both the right and left sides of your entry. Entries should boldly display the name of their organization on right and left side of float/vehicle for judging purposes.
• All competing entries must be decorated in the theme it Candy Land. Judges will sit at the start of the parade. First place will receive $100 Second will receive $50 and third $25. Winners will be notified by phone. All floats are encouraged to use lights.
• Judges will select winners that best demonstrated the parade theme. Judges will base decisions on originality, boldness, creativity, and general enthusiasm for the theme.
See the list of Holiday Events at mysaline.com/events.
To submit an event, email [email protected].