Dr. Paul Linkenhoker led Olde Town Covington’s meeting on Tues., Nov. 15, to finalize plans for conducting the Covington Christmas Parade to be held on Sat., Dec. 3 at 5:00 p.m.
The 2022 theme of the parade is “Christmas Traditions,” and Rylee Reynolds reported that 20 entries have already been received to participate in the parade that will assemble on Riverside St. adjacent to Westvaco beginning at 4:00 p.m. before proceeding through Covington at 5:00 p.m.
The parade judges will award the following prizes: First Place Religious Float, Second Place Religious Float, Frist Place Novelty, Second Place Novelty, First Place Marching, Second Place Marching, Best Junior Marching and Equestrian.
Ray Keen, Jr. is in charge of lining up the entries prior to the start of the parade, and Pastor Steve Noel will assist with the announcing of the entries as they pass Good News Church on Main. Announcing each entry is a new component to the parade.
After listening to committee members report on organizational procedures in place to make sure that the planned activities leading up to the parade and the parade will produce the desired outcome, Linkenhoker remarked, “I’m overjoyed for what you have done.”
Free movies will be shown at Good News Church on Main during the afternoon as part of the “Christmas Bizarre” the church has organized to provide visitors with activities prior to the parade.
Also, R-C Theatre Covington Movies 3 has pitched in to show free movies prior to the parade in the afternoon as well.
Prior to the discussion concerning the Covington Christmas Parade, Linkenhoker reported to the 12 members in attendance (including Mayor Tom Sibold and acting Covington City Manager David “B.B.”Bryant) about the application for Mobilizing Main Street that Olde Town Covington is preparing to submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) before the 11:59 p.m., Nov. 18, deadline.
Both Bryant and Sibold assured Linkenhoker that they will sign off on the application and see that it gets filed prior to the deadline.
The Mobilizing Main Street application should it be approved will provide the City of Covington with the official Main Street status.
Official Main Street status will enable a community to receive comprehensive organizational development services over a two-year period.
Providing all goes well and all requirements are met, official State Designation in the Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) tier and National Accreditation through Main Street America can be achieved.
Linkenhoker outlined a brief history of the settlement of Covington from its founding till the present, noting changing times that have shaped the local economy, and he reported that should the application be approved, it will give Covington and the surrounding area an economic boost and enhance the chances of attracting new businesses to locate in Covington.
Near the end of the meeting, a discussion was held concerning securing a convertible for Mary K. Asma, the Christmas Mother, to ride during the parade. The City of Covington has established the tradition of having The Christmas Mother lead the parade.
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