A float is pictured above in the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (File photo by Eli Welton)
The Oak Ridge Christmas Parade will be a reverse parade this year because of concerns about COVID-19. That means the floats will be stationary and spectators will drive the parade route.
In normal years, the spectators are stationary, and the floats are driven down Oak Ridge Turnpike.
This year, floats will line the northbound lanes of Lafayette Drive (heading toward Oak Ridge Turnpike), and spectators will drive down the southbound lanes (heading toward Illinois Avenue) to enjoy the festivities from the safety and comfort of their own cars, a press release said.
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the parade, announced the change on Monday.
The parade is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, December 12.
The decision to move to a reverse parade was made in consultation with Chamber staff and leaders from the City of Oak Ridge because of COVID-19 concerns, the press release said.
Each entry will have an assigned space along Lafayette Drive for its float/display. At 6 p.m. on December 12, vehicles will be led by members of the Oak Ridge Police Department down the opposite side of Lafayette Drive to view all of the beautiful and creative entries they have come to expect from our parade.
The Chamber will be accepting entries online through Friday, December 4. Register by visiting the Chamber’s website at www.oakridgechamber.org.
More details will be announced soon, the press release said.
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