ORANGE — It looks like it is going to be a Cajun-kind of Christmas in Orange this year.
The Orange Jaycees have announced the 64th Annual Christmas Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7, in Orange. This year’s theme will be “A Cajun Christmas.”
“Some people will go all out trying to fit in with the Cajun theme,” said Niki Monceaux, parade chairperson, with a laugh. “It may have a bit of a Mardi Gras feel to it, but that’s OK.”
The yearly event will follow its route of beginning in the old Sears parking lot on MacArthur Drive in Pinehurst and traveling onto Green Avenue in Orange and concluding at the Fourth Street and Green Avenue intersection.
The night-time parade is one of the most attended Christmas spectacles in Orange County as thousands of people line the roadside to catch a glimpse of all the wonderfully decorated floats, colorful lights and, of course, Santa Claus.
“We had over 100 entries last year, which was a lot of entries, and we are hoping to have even more than that this year,” she added.
Entry forms will soon be available at R&R Auto Supply on MacArthur Drive, Artcraft Printing on Western Avenue and at the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce office on Green Avenue.
Categories include marching, general, commercial and religious. Bands will receive a participation trophy, while first, second and third place trophies will be presented in each of the categories. There are also three “Judges Choice” trophies to be awarded, and the grand marshal will award the trophy for the best overall entry.
The parade is one of the most popular Christmas events in Orange County, as thousands of people line the street to see the colorfully lighted and decorated floats.
“Everyone really comes out for this parade. It’s like a tradition for a lot of people,” Monceaux explained. “I used to come to the parade with my parents when I was child, and now I bring my kids to it. It’s something many of us have grown up with, and that’s special.”
Call Monceaux at 409-221-0801 for more information on this year’s parade, As always, the Orange Jaycees want you to “Jesus Is The Reason For The Season.”
