Franklin Chamber of Commerce Announces 2024 Christmas Parade Plans and Grand Marshal

Franklin’s Annual Christmas Parade Held Thanksgiving Weekend
(photo provided)

PRESS RELEASE (10-23-2024)
FRANKLIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

FRANKLIN, NC -- Here comes Santa! The Franklin Chamber of Commerce announces plans are underway for this year’s Annual Christmas Parade which will officially ring in the holiday season. The celebration will be held Sunday, December 1, beginning at 3:00 pm. Entries will line up along Church Street behind the Courthouse. The route will begin by pulling out on the top of Town Hill beside Town Hall. The route will proceed down Main Street turning left at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company onto Porter Street. Then turn left onto Palmer Street. The route will end at the intersection of the Highlands Road and Main Street. We are pleased to honor Derek Roland, Macon County’s departing County Manager, as this year’s Grand Marshal. Roland has served as County Manager for the past 11 years beginning his tenure at 28 years old. While County Manager, Roland lead the county by completing $150 million in capital improvements, rebuilding the county’s reserve fund, increasing county employee’s salaries to be competitive with surrounding communities, all without increasing Macon County’s tax rate. Roland considers one of his greatest accomplishments as County Manager was to help stabilize the area’s workforce. Thank you, Derek, for your service to Macon County and best of luck in your new venture. Parade participants will again be able to have folks walk beside their float/entry handing out candy. No candy can be thrown from a moving vehicle. In addition, all horses must wear a manure bag/horse diaper.

Registration is required and entry forms can be picked up and returned to the Chamber office located at 98 Hyatt Road. Deadline for entry is Wednesday, November 27 by 5 pm. Please note the Chamber will be closed for Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29. Commercial Floats are available to rent by calling Diane at the Franklin Chamber. For additional information, contact the Franklin Chamber of Commerce by calling 828-524-3161.