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Get Ready for the Only Holiday Parade in the City of Durham!



The 2014 Annual Christmas/Holiday Parade for the Parkwood Community in Durham is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th (rain date Dec. 13) from 2-5pm. It is sponsored by the Parkwood Association and the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department; with the help and participation of many community volunteers. 

Dwindling attendance numbers prompted the City of Durham to revamp its Holiday tradition in 2010; changing it from a holiday parade to a Family Fun Festival. However, the Parkwood Parade tradition continues to grow larger and get better every year. The parade features bands, marching groups, fire trucks, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and many other groups from Durham and surrounding communities.

Santa is once again being played by Louis Overman – a former Parkwood resident who has been Parkwood’s Santa for 35 years. Returning for an 11th year as Mrs. Claus will be Parkwood resident Lynn Berkes. Grand Marshal for this year’s parade will be none other than Mr. Parkwood himself, Sol Ellis! Sol Ellis is a founding member of the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department, is an ‘Original Parkwoodian,’ and if you’re also an ‘Original’ homeowner here, he probably sold you your house.

The central location to plug into your GPS for the event is 1417 Seaton Road, Durham, NC 27713.

Reserve your space as part of Durham’s biggest holiday parade. There is no charge to any organization to participate in the Parkwood parade. Kick off the holidays with the sights and sounds of the season!

A new addition to Parade festivities will be a “Breakfast with Santa” fundraiser for Toys for Tots, Saturday, December 6th (will be in morning…time TBA) at Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department, 1409 Seaton Road, Durham NC 27713. Admission is $5.00 per person with a new, wrapped toy; $7.00 without toy.

Parade check-in starts at 12:30 PM at 5100 Revere Road (the shopping center parking lot). Registration cutoff is 1:45 to allow time for transport to the south end of Parkwood Lake, where the parade will begin (ending at the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department). If you would like to participate in this year’s celebration, please contact Betty Ertell (919) 544-1324 or the Parkwood Association office at 919-544-2161

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