Click, click, click is not just the sound of reindeer on housetops this year, as the Budweiser Clydesdales will be trotting their way through town during the 2023 Columbus Christmas Parade.
On Tuesday afternoon, Main Street Columbus announced in a press release the horses will make an appearance during the parade, which will begin downtown at 6 p.m. Dec. 10.
Barbara Bigelow, executive director for Main Street Columbus, told The Dispatch the parade was rescheduled specifically so the Clydesdales could be there.
“I received an unexpected email late last week advising that they would be visiting North Mississippi and would be available on … Dec. 10, if we would be interested in having them in Columbus,” Bigelow said in the release. “I gathered the Christmas Parade committee together and we revamped our plans for this year’s parade as we definitely wanted to accommodate the Clydesdales’ schedule. They always provide a fabulous treat for people of all ages, and our community enjoys each time they visit our city.”
Bigelow said this is the third time the Budweiser Clydesdales, in partnership with Mitchell Distributing, have been featured in the Christmas parade, and they are always a favorite. The horses last appeared in the parade in 2021.
She said those who are interested can come and watch the horses be unloaded before the parade.
The release also included the parade’s theme, which will be “A Classic Christmas.” The parade’s grand marshal has already been chosen, Bigelow said, but will not be announced until November.
Christmas parade applications are available in the Main Street Office, 107 Fifth St. N., online at www.columbusmainstreet.com, or facebook.com/MainStreetColumbus. For further information, call (662) 328-6305.
Starkville
Starkville’s Main Street Association also announced its plans for the annual Starkville Christmas Parade, which will begin downtown at 6 p.m. Nov. 27.
Main Street Director for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Paige Watson said entries have already started to roll in for the parade, following the theme of all upcoming Christmas events “All is Bright.”
“We are hoping for our biggest, best, brightest Christmas parade yet,” Watson said. “It’s always such a fun night, and applications are going to be open until Nov. 16, I believe. … We encourage everyone to participate and attend.”
Watson said the Budweiser Clydesdales will not be appearing in the Starkville Christmas Parade, but she is hoping to coordinate another visit with them. But, the Christmas parade will be featuring a familiar face, as Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins has been selected as the parade’s grand marshal, having served as alderman for 30 years and as vice mayor for four consecutive terms.
“It is a very superior feeling,” Perkins said. “I am so humble, grateful, thankful and appreciative of being selected to fulfill this very prestigious role as grand marshal for the 2023 Starkville Christmas Parade.”
Perkins thanked Watson, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Mayor Lynn Spruill and all others involved in his selection for the role, and said he is grateful to serve the city.
Parade applications are available online until 5 p.m. on Nov. 16 at starkville.org/visit/events/starkville-christmas-parade/. The entry fee for parade participation is $25 and can be made payable online to the Starkville Main Street Association.
For more information regarding the event, contact Paige Watson at (662) 323-3322 or email [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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