One of the most well-kept holiday traditions in the Hartsville community is the Hartsville Christmas Parade. The 2017 parade, sponsored by Sonoco, SPC Credit Union, and North Industrial Machine, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 9 as a part of the Hartsville for the Holidays season.

As a collaboration of the community, the Hartsville Christmas Parade will feature Hartsville’s first responders, local businesses, marching bands, dance troops, and an appearance from the Hartsville Northern League Minor League All Stars 2017 AAA Dixie Youth World Series Champions as Grand Marshalls. The JROTC cadets of Hartsville High School will present our nation’s colors. An appearance by jolly Santa Claus will end this season’s parade.

“Every year our Hartsville for the Holidays team looks forward to showcasing the spirit of the holidays in our small town,” says Marketing and Events Coordinator Jordan Braddock, “We’re proud to continue to the beloved tradition of the Hartsville Christmas Parade highlighting our many our local businesses and organizations.”

The parade route will begin on South Fifth Street at the Newsome Warehouse parking lot and proceed north on South Fifth Street The parade will turn right onto Laurens Avenue, just before Applebee’s, and turn left on South Fourth Street past the Fairfield Inn. The parade will continue on Fourth Street, past the Hartsville Farmers Market on East Carolina Avenue, and will turn left onto East College Avenue. The parade will then turn left again onto North Fifth Street before turning right onto West Carolina Avenue. The parade will end at Thornwell School for the Arts, 437 West Carolina Avenue.

The parking lot at Newsome Warehouse will be the “staging area” for vehicles and floats participating in the parade.  This area will only be used for those purposes. At the close of the parade, participants will be dropped off at Thornwell School where they can be picked up. All floats will then return to Newsome Warehouse for breakdown, helping prevent stoppages in the parade flow. Returning floats can make their way back to Newsome Warehouse by way of Marlboro Avenue and Sixth Street. Parade units are asked to make sure that any candy given out along route is not thrown from vehicles, but is rather handed out by those walking in the parade. For spectator parking availability, all public parking lots will remain open. Traffic will be delayed as a result of the parade.

Parade goers are encouraged to visit the Hartsville Farmers Market before and after the parade. The Market is located on East Carolina Avenue and begins at 9am, ending at 1pm. Additionally, after his parade appearance, Santa Claus will be available for photographs at the Hartsville Museum’s, “Simply Christmas Exhibit”, located at 222 N. Fifth St. from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Photos are free. Please bring your own camera.

For more information, contact Jordan Braddock, Marketing and Events Coordinator at 843.917.0602 or jordan.braddock@hartsvillesc.gov.