One of the most well-kept holiday traditions in the Hartsville community is the Hartsville Christmas Parade. The 2016 parade, sponsored by Darlington Raceway, North Industrial Machine, Sonoco, and SPC Credit Union, will begin at 10:30 am on Saturday, December 10th.

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 2016 All- America City delegation 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.

“The Hartsville Christmas Parade brings a significant and diverse crowd every year and reminds us that our community has much to be proud of,” Jordan Braddock, Marketing and Events Coordinator and planner of this event, commented, “The City is proud to continue this beloved tradition for the 2016 season. The parade is a grand way to end the Hartsville for the Holidays festivities.”

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.

A parade float competition was conducted during the 2015 Hartsville Christmas parade. Winners of this competition will be featured in this season’s parade. Winners include KFA Dance and Gymnastics for ‘Most Holiday Spirit’ and the Hartsville YMCA for ‘Most Creative’.

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.

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