Courtesy of the Lewes Chamber
Tom King, Chairman of the Lewes Christmas Parade, jointly presented by the City of Lewes and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, has announced this year’s Honorary Grand Marshals for the 84th Annual Christmas Parade—Jeffrey Fried, Beebe Healthcare’s President & CEO, and Anna Beebe Moore, representing the Beebe family, celebrating Beebe’s 100th anniversary. This year’s parade theme is Christmas in Bloom in Lewes.
The parade takes place on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. (Rain/snow date: Saturday, Dec. 12 at the same time.)
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Youth Marching Group, Band, Clown, Equestrian, Antique Car (vintage 1967 or older), Decorated Vehicle (after 1967 or more recent), Fire Company, Commercial Float, Punkin’ Chunkin’ Vehicle, Community Organization Float and Youth Organization Float. The parade begins on Savannah Road at Sussex Drive and will end in front of King’s Ice Cream Shop on Second Street. Entrants for Saturday’s parade are asked to commit to the rain/snow date on the following Saturday, if it is necessary.
Dennis Forney, publisher of the Cape Gazette, returns as the parade announcer and will introduce the entries from the judges’ reviewing stand in Zwaanendael Park. The mayor and city council will lead the parade followed by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, riding in an antique farm truck, decorated with poinsettias, holly and mistletoe. After the parade, the Christmas tree in Zwaanendael Park will be illuminated followed by candlelight caroling in the park, led by Christy Taylor with sound by Bill Larsen.
The Christmas Parade is the culmination of a number of special events and activities associated with the celebration of the Christmas weekend in historic Lewes. The festivities kick off on Thursday, Dec. 3, with two hospitality events: Beebe Auxiliary’s Gift Shop in the hospital is hosting a hospitality night from 4 p.m.–7 p.m., and the Lewes Merchants’ 29th annual hospitality night takes place the same night from 5 p.m.–8 p.m. in the historic commercial district surrounding Second Street, including the Zwaanendael Museum with extended hours. Second Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4 p.m.–8 p.m. on Thursday night.
Santa will make a brief visit to his Lewes house in front of Citizens Bank that evening in advance of his arrival at the Lewes Christmas Parade on Saturday night. Each child who visits Santa that night will receive a copy of “The Night Before Christmas,” compliments of The Cottage, a vintage gift boutique, located on Second Street. On Friday, Dec. 4, Beebe’s Auxiliary is hosting a holiday craft show in the east lobby of the hospital’s main campus from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. The Children’s Beach House hosts its annual art exhibit and sale benefit preview party on Friday, Dec. 4 from 6:30 p.m.–10 p.m. with the sale continuing on Saturday and Sunday. The Lewes Historical Society’s 42nd Annual Christmas Tour of Lewes takes place on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Lewes in Bloom is hosting its second annual Christmas Market at St. Peter’s churchyard from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., selling fresh greens, pine cone trees, swags, roping, holiday bows and other handmade items. Also taking place at St. Peter’s Church that day from 11 a.m–2 p.m. is the ECW Soup Luncheon in the Parish Hall, in conjunction with the Christmas Tour of Lewes. There are numerous other activities throughout the Lewes area associated with the holiday weekend celebrations.
For a complete listing, visit the chamber’s website—www.leweschamber.com—and click on the calendar tab. The chamber’s visitor center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and will be open from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.
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