Area municipalities are making merry, readying for holiday parades.
Organizers said the business of brightening spirits begins months before December.
Kristina Palmer, who is on a committee of the Unadilla Chamber of Commerce, said parade plans got underway “back in June.”
“We meet at least once a month and bring all our ideas to the table, to see what new things to add,” she said. “This year we added a lot, to try to bring the magic back to our small town. We’ve made our parade longer, we have added vendors to the end of the parade, we’ve added our house decorating contest, and there’s going to be a lot of neat things for the kids to do and see there at the end.”
Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce President John Payne said he’s been involved with planning the village’s holiday parade for the last 10 years.
“It’s hard to get volunteers, but it’s our board,” he said, noting its seven members. “It’s a continuous planning, because our goal is to increase it in size every year, but we really start pushing it in early November.
“We have both sides of Main Street lined with Christmas trees at each of the merchant businesses, and that’s already happening,” Payne continued. “There’s Santa Claus after the parade at Bob’s Diner for the children, and they have photos available with Santa. He’ll ride in on the fire truck and the school band should be participating, and fire departments, Lions clubs, other groups, the garden club and a lot of the scouting groups. We don’t have any criteria. You just show up.”
Lineup for the Saturday, Dec. 14 Bainbridge parade begins at 4 p.m. at Payne’ Cranes on Pyrne Street, with the parade at 5 p.m.
Sidney Chamber President Teri Schunk said the village’s Holly Jolly events are a staple.
“Nobody knows how long it’s been going,” she said. “But we – the chamber board – probably start planning three months before. We call it our Holly Jolly event, and the main event is the parade, but we try to make it a full day.
“We have other holiday stuff going on in the community, (including) music and activities in the local merchants,” Schunk continued. “We kind of reach out to the chamber members and say ‘Hey, do you want to participate?’ and there’s the tree-lighting and Santa. We’ve got Bee’s Knees (restaurant) doing treats and Roasted (Coffee) doing hot chocolate and popcorn. Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch will be walking the city. It’s just a fun day.”
Oneonta’s Home for the Holidays parade is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, with lineup at 9 a.m. Valerie Secor, publisher of The Daily Star and a member of the Oneonta Parade Planning Committee, said in a statement that plans for the holiday parade “began as soon as Halloween planning concluded.”
The committee, she said, includes representatives from The Daily Star, Destination Oneonta, the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and Oneonta Rotary.
New this year, Secor said, the parade will conclude at the intersection of Main and Chestnut streets.
“Traditionally the parade ends at Foothills Performing Arts Center,” she said. “Photos with Santa and the ladies from Hill City Ice Princess Parties will take place at Muller Plaza immediately following the parade.”
Sources said hosting and organizing holiday parades boosts more than just spirits.
“It’s packed,” Schunk said. “I would say it’s a few hundred (paradegoers). We have no way to measure, but, because of our Four Towns Forward (a nonprofit, collaborative group between Afton, Bainbridge, Sidney and Unadilla), which has really exploded, all four towns support each other.
“(People) love it,” she continued. “A couple years ago, the tree-lighting was new. There had never been one before my term. The Tri-Town Theatre carols around the tree, and we light it and it’s part of the holiday.”
Schunk estimated “25 to 30” parade entries. Find more information on the “Sidney Chamber of Commerce” Facebook page.
“Even though most chamber of commerces’ main concern is promoting business and attracting new business, it’s also, after businesses are established, to come up with ideas to get people into town,” Payne said. “I think (community response to the parade) is very good; it grows every year, and I think they look forward to it. There’s all this discussion this time of year about who’s going to have a float and who isn’t, and we try to make it a little competitive without making it a formal competition.
“And, if you get 1,000 to 1,500 people into town, they go to my diner and Jerry’s Inn and other places,” he continued. “It’s an opportunity to get potential customers into the community. We actually draw people from the Norwich area, Sidney, Unadilla, Coventry and Greene.”
Payne noted that he expects roughly 65 “floats and groups.” For more information, call Payne at 607-316-6854 or find “Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce” on Facebook.
Palmer said Unadilla’s organizing committee is hoping for similar attendance.
“In the past, we’ve mainly had Unadilla village-goers … and a very small turnout, maybe 20 parade participants,” she said. “This year, we have confirmed that we are the only village in the area on that night – Dec. 13 – and we have personally invited people from other villages to participate, so we’re hoping to get them.
“We had a change in (commerce) management, we have a whole new group of people working on it this year, and the people working on it are absolutely fantastic,” Palmer continued. “We kind of took what’s worked and what hasn’t worked from years prior to make our decisions this year … and most of the decisions were made based on the comfort of citizens – those that will be participating as guests and paradegoers. We wanted to make it the most public-friendly event (possible).”
Palmer noted that changes include offering food while waiting for Santa, as the parade coincides with dinnertime for many. Holiday-themed shopping and entertainment in Unadilla will take place from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Find more information at the “Village of Unadilla NY Holiday Parade” Facebook page.
Secor said that while attendance “varies so much depending on the weather,” Oneonta’s “streets are generally lined with smiling kiddos waiting to get a peek at the man in red.”
Though Secor noted a dip in participation with the COVID-19 pandemic, she said roughly 30 entrants are expected this year.
“I would love to see more participation from Oneonta schools, marching bands and youth groups,” she said. “The Daily Star Selfie Elfie will, of course, be joining us again this year.”
That aspect, Secor said, makes the weeks of planning worthwhile.
“Times are tough for a lot of people right now,” she said. “If we can bring joy to the children of our community and their families, even for 20-30 minutes, it is worth it the effort, and these parades take a lot of effort.”
To participate in Oneonta’s parade, open to everyone, visit form.jotform.com/243265055708155 or call Secor at 607-441-7235.