See MySaline’s list of all the holiday events, and other events, and submit your own, at www.mysaline.com/events
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The Saline County Christmas Parade is coming up once again in Downtown Benton. The Downtown Business Partnership revealed the theme for the 2024 parade is Christmas in Toyland. 🪀🧸 Come to downtown Benton on Monday, December 2nd. Grab a spot early on the sidewalk and bundle up with friends and family to see the Courthouse Lights come on and the Christmas 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.
Parade Route
• The parade route is shown below. Click the image to enlarge it.
• 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.
THIS IS THE PARADE FLOAT ROUTE FOR DURING PARADE. Click to enlarge.
Register as a float/parade entry
Register to participate in the Saline County Christmas Parade. Read the full process and rules below, and you’ll have a much better time!
Get the form
- Pick it up at Paradise Pets or The Oil Shop on N. Market Street in Benton.
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 the Friday before the parade. Drop them off at Paradise Pets or The Oil Shop, along with payment.
Parade Rules
- Date: Monday, December 2, 2024
- Start Time: 6pm – Line up any time prior to 5:30 (earlier the better)
- Theme: Christmas in Toyland
- Organizer: Downtown Benton Partnership
Decor
• All competing entries should decorate their floats in this year’s theme.
• 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.
• Don’t dress as Mr. & Mrs. Claus; other costumes are encouraged.
• 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.
Candy/Children
• Candy may be handed out, but not thrown. Watch for children as you navigate the street.
• 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
• If possible, come as a group; this minimizes confusion and lost children.
• Parade entries line up according to who shows up first. They do not line up in numerical order.
• Numbers are given only to those competing.
• To enter the lineup, drive to the south end of downtown by the railroad tracks and come up to Market Street from there. (ex: take East Street to Hazel Street or take Richards Street to Hazel Street) Do not come south on Market Street.
• 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 the map with an example of how parade entries should line up:
• Law enforcement will direct traffic.
• 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.
See MySaline’s list of all the holiday events, and other events, and submit your own, at www.mysaline.com/events
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