LANDIS ó The 2008 Southern Rowan Christmas Parade gets under way at 3:30 p.m. today in Landis, moving northward to China Grove around 4:15 p.m.
Parade participants will be loaded down with candy to toss to thousands of waiting children and adults.
Sandy Overcash, who has headed up the parade committee for a decade, praised the work of the new leadership, Jennifer Hauss and Meredith Bare. Overcash also praised the local businesses for sponsoring the floats in spite of the tightening economy.
The additional floats are expected to add more holiday cheer and sparkle to the parade, which will have more than 100 units.
The new leadership, Hauss and Bare, have worked on the nonprofit parade committee for several years.
Hauss, 27, a China Grove resident, works at Stericycle in Concord, a firm that processes medical waste.
Bare, the new treasurer, is a Landis resident, who works for her father, Robert Bare Associates of Kannapolis. She is also a hair stylist.
The parade starts at the intersection of Highland Avenue, First Street and South Main Street in Landis.
It marches through Landis and disassembles at North Main Street and Laurel Avenue.
The parade reassembles in China Grove on Main Street at Stevens Street, goes up Main Street and breaks up at Ross Street.
Other area parades:
– Mooresville Christmas Parade, today.
– Salisbury’s 49th Annual Holiday Caravan, Wednesday; 2 p.m. in Spencer, 3 p.m. in Salisbury.
– Statesville, Dec. 9, 3 p.m.
– Mount Pleasant Holiday Celebration and Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 13. Parade starts at 11 a.m. The Mount Pleasant Library will host “The Christmas Cabaret” at 12:30 p.m.
– The Kannapolis Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec.13 at 6 p.m.