(PLATTSBURGH- Tuesday October 24th 2023) - Something magical is coming back to Margaret Street on Saturday December 2nd! The City of Plattsburgh and The Strand Center for the Arts are teaming up once again to bring a day full of festive activities and holiday cheer. This year’s festivities include children’s art activities at The Strand, The Nutcracker Ballet, a Merry Mugs fundraiser, music and dance performances and the 8th annual Holiday Parade and tree lighting ceremony!
Art Activities for Kids, Merry Mugs Fundraiser, and More at the Strand
Starting at 3:00PM, the MakerSpace on the second floor of the Strand Arts Center will be open and families are welcome to experience art activities for free with Strand staff members. From 3:00PM to 6:00PM the Strand’s Merry Mugs fundraiser will be held on the Strand front lawn. Purchase a handmade mug and fill it with hot cocoa to warm yourself up while you wait for the parade to begin. All proceeds will go to support Strand's Clay Studio programming.
Be sure to book your tickets now to catch this year’s performance of The Nutcracker Ballet presented by Lake Placid Center for the Arts, being held in the Strand Center Theatre at 1:00PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.strandcenter.org/theatre-events.
Parade Theme and Grand Marshal
This year the City of Plattsburgh is pleased to announce the 2023 Holiday Parade Theme: Winter Wonderland in the North County! We can’t wait to see how our parade participants will embody the spirit of Winter - from favorite winter sports and activities, to celebrating our favorite winter traditions, this year's parade promises to be a spectacular display of lights and community spirit! The annual Holiday parade trophy is waiting to be awarded to the best group, and this year the City has expanded its judging categories for more chances for groups to place in the contest. In keeping with tradition, parade participants will be judged on their representation of holiday spirit and the theme. The winner will be chosen by the Mayor of Plattsburgh, the 2022 and 2023 Parade Grand Marshals, a member of The Strand Center for the Arts and members of the Common Council.
The big question on many people’s minds is who will be named this year’s parade grand marshal? The City plans to share our 2023 Holiday Parade grand marshal closer to the event, so please stay tuned!
8th Annual Holiday Parade
The pre-parade “warm-up” show will begin at 5:00PM and include musical performances, sing a longs and a performance from Center Stage dance group.
The parade will begin at 5:30 pm. It will travel down Brinkerhoff Street making a turn onto Oak Street, to Court Street and traveling east on Margaret Street where it will finish at the intersection of Margaret and Broad Street. The tree lighting will be held at the intersection of Margaret and Brinkerhoff Streets, on the lawn of the Strand Center for the Arts, immediately following the end of the parade.
Details on how to Register for the Parade
Space is limited, but floats and walking groups are encouraged to sign up until the deadline of 4:00PM Friday November 24th. Local businesses, schools and all community groups can sign up by completing the online form which can be found at www.discoverplattsburgh.com/events or on the City’s Facebook page. For more information on signing up or to volunteer, email events@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov or call 518-563-7526.
The City of Plattsburgh would like to thank The Strand Center for the Arts for parting to make this event possible. The City would also like to thank Schluter Systems, Chapter One Coffee and Tea, Lakeshore Pediatric Dentistry, Hall Communications, Norsk Titanium, and MVP Health Care for making this event possible.
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