Bentonville, AR – 2012-12-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 2012 Bentonville Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 8th at 11:00 am. The parade starts on 8th Street and S. Main in downtown Bentonville, winds north on Main to the downtown Square, turns left on NW 2nd Street and ends at the intersection of NW 2nd Street and NW A Street. The Bentonville High School Marching Band will be joining over 1,500 humans, animals and vehicles to celebrate holiday traditions around the world. The community can view the parade along Main Street and the Bentonville Square.
Community Coffee Company, the largest family owned and operated retail coffee brand in America, will be providing free coffee at their trolley café, which will be located on Central Avenue prior to and during the parade. The youth music group Breaking Silence will be entertaining crowds on the Square from 10:00 am – 11:00 am as well.
This year’s parade grand marshals include Mayor Bob McCaslin and his family in a horse drawn carriage provided by Executive Carriages, the company currently working on the downtown Square during the holiday season. The color of the 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville penguin will also be revealed during the parade, with the icon of this newest addition to the downtown experience riding with the mayor.
The parade Master of Ceremonies includes 5News anchors Ashley Beck and Daren Bobb. The 2012 parade judges include Rick Reed, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21c Museum Hotel, Thomas Merrit, owner of the downtown art gallery Studio 124; and Sarah Nelson, co-owner of the downtown restaurant Tusk and Trotter. Categories include best walking group and best float.
The parade will end with a visit from Santa Claus, who will make an appearance at the Walmart Visitor Center immediately following the parade. Santa pictures will be available at the Walmart Visitor Center.
Street closings for the parade including Central Avenue from W. Central and NE A Street to E. Central to SE A Street , Main Street from 2nd and S. Main Street to NW 2nd and N. Main Street, SE A Street from E. Central to NE A Street and NW 2ndStreet from NE A Street to NW A Street. Intersections along the parade route on Main Street will be closed to through traffic while the parade in session.
The parade is produced by Downtown Bentonville, Inc., with support provided by Community Coffee, Bentonville Public Schools, City of Bentonville, 5News, and the Bentonville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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