FALL RIVER: The Fall River Lions Club Christmas Express Parade will have a new route.
For this year’s event, scheduled for Dec. 1 beginning at 5 p.m., organizer Paula Beck-MacKenzie confirms the parade will begin at Lockview High School on Lockview Road. The parade had been a mainstay of starting up by Fall River Village/Richardson Drive at the LWF Hall on Fall River Road.
“We decided to change it up and have it start at Lockview because it is a better route with plenty of opportunity for more of a crowd,” said Beck-MacKenzie.
She also said there is a sign-up process for the parade this year which will be part of the new website they are getting ready to launch. The annual Lions Christmas Express Food Drive will continue to be part of the parade.
The parade will be part of Christmas on the Canal, which will see for a second year in a row the FRABA Christmas Tree Lighting take place on the same night as the parade. There is a Dec. 8 storm date for the parade and tree lighting.
If you’re interested in entering a float, please email lionschristmasexpress@gmail.com. Also, please check out their website, where you can register your float/entry into the parade. by clicking on the highlighted text.
The Christmas tree lighting will see music from Joyful Sounds on Broadway group on the stage in the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot, new this year due to the construction of the new Dairy Queen. The tree will remain in it’s usual location next to Tim’s and be lit once the countdown is down following a brief ceremony.
“We plan to have our music going as the parade comes in past us,” said Louise MacDonald, chairwoman for the FRABA Christmas on the Canal. “When Santa gets here he will say a few words and then the tree will be lit.”
She hopes that all takes place in a short 10-15 minute span from the time the parade finishes at the Sobeys mall parking lot to the time the tree is lit.
Christmas on the Canal is scheduled for Dec. 1 with the Lions Christmas Express parade beginning at 5 p.m. at Lockview High, and the FRABA Christmas tree lighting set for shortly after 6 p.m.
If you’re interested in sponsoring a child/family this Christmas, please email lionschristmasexpress@gmail.com.
