Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Area residents aren’t the only ones getting ready for Christmas. Local cities are in the holiday spirit as well.
The Portales Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 38th annual Christmas Jubilee light parade at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
Clovis’ annual Christmas Light Parade is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.
Organizers from both events said they expect big turnouts.
The Portales parade will start on the corner of Second Street and Avenue O and travel down Main Street.
Portales Chamber Executive Director Karl Terry said they had nearly 60 floats last year and he expects more on Friday.
Terry said it is a tradition within Portales to host the parade the first Friday of December.
“It’s something everybody has looked forward to. This has always been the one thing that has been the defining Christmas event within the community,” Terry said.
After the parade, prizes will be awarded the best floats.
According to the Chamber’s website, there is no entree fee or particular theme for this year’s parade.
Terry said residents who want to be a part of the parade should apply through the Chamber’s website or call 575-356 -8541. He recommended those who want to watch or participate arrive about 30 minutes before the parade begins.
Temperatures are expected in the low 40s, but hot cups of cocoa and Christmas music on the square – along with sweaters and scarves -- should help keep everyone warm.
“It’s a special time and it signals the start of the holiday season for us,” Terry said.
In Clovis, Executive Director of Clovis MainStreet Lisa Pellegrino-Spear said the parade would be the final touch to a Saturday full of festivities and fun.
“It’s a significant impact to our community pride and to kick off the holiday season as a community,” Pellegrino-Spear said.
The theme for Clovis’ parade is “A Very Mickey Christmas Carol.” Pellegrino-Spear said the public voted for the theme in honor of Disney’s 100-year anniversary. She said every year MainStreet tries to get the public’s perspective before announcing the theme.
“We’ve had a lot of wonderful feedback and communication. This year we will have even more floats and attendance than we had last year,” Pellegrino-Spear predicted.
Pellegrino-Spear said registration is available through the Clovis Chamber of Commerce’s website. Last year, she said the parade had 90 floats.
“Last year was one of our biggest parades yet and I think we will even grow more this year,” Pellegrino-Spear said.
Entry fee for Clovis floats is $20. Judges will select parade winners in multiple categories.
The parade will go down Main Street, starting at Fourteenth Street and wrapping up at Grand Avenue.
Other holiday events scheduled Saturday in Clovis:
• At 1 p.m. there will be free family photos with Santa at the Phil and Vernah Williams Historic Railroad Park.
• Families are invited for arts and crafts with Santa’s helpers at the Clovis-Carver Public Library from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a book reading and cookies.
• There will be food trucks and open houses from local businesses throughout the day.
