Lewes Christmas parade to dazzle First Town Dec. 7

The 92nd annual Lewes Christmas parade, presented by the City of Lewes and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, will step off at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, from Lewes Elementary School parking lot on Savannah Road. It will progress down Savannah to Second Street, ending in front of King’s Ice Cream shop. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be held at the same time Sunday, Dec. 8.

Celebrating an Old-Fashioned Christmas in Lewes is the theme.

The parade organizing committee is co-chaired by Craig Beebe of NextHome Tomorrow Realty and G.W. Thompson of NerdsToGo. Reprising their roles as parade announcers will be chamber board member Jim Smith of Delmarva Power, and Michael DiPaolo of the Delaware Community Foundation.

The Greater Lewes Foundation has been selected as this year’s honorary grand marshal, in recognition of its numerous projects that have maintained and enhanced the local quality of life for 25 years. Its first project was in 2000 when the foundation saved the downtown Lewes waterfront and created Lewes Canalfront Park. Next, the GLF negotiated the purchase of land and helped raise $12 million  to construct the Lewes Public Library at its current site. Newer projects include saving the Fourth Street Preserve, Lewes’s last remaining forest; working with the state to fully restore and expand the historic Nassau School; and assisting the state with redesigning the DeVries Monument in time for the 400th anniversary of the original Dutch colony that led to the founding of Lewes.

Parade prizes are awarded in a number of categories including one recognizing entrants that include an exceptional sound component in their entry. The other prize categories are: Marching Group, Band, Clown, Equestrian, Decorated Classic Car (vintage 1967 or older), Decorated Vehicle (1968 or more recent), Fire Company, Commercial Float, Community Organization Float and Youth Organization Float.

After the parade, everyone is invited to join Mayor Andrew Williams as he officially illuminates the Christmas tree in Zwaanendael Park followed by candlelight caroling in the park, led by Christy Taylor with some of her music students. The tree-lighting ceremony will commence shortly after the last parade entry passes by the judges’ reviewing stand in Zwaanendael Park.

For more information, go to leweschamber.com.