The year gradually winds down and our events on The Ave—one by one—go into the record books. Our sights are now set on Christmas and all the fun that goes with the season.
We’ll get to the parade in a moment but, first, we have a new event coming up in December to which I’ll introduce you—a three-day Yuletide extravaganza An Olde Fashioned Christmas on The Ave. Yes, that’s the theme of our Christmas Parade, because the parade will set the stage for this bigger event to come.
This event, a throwback to Christmas times of old, is organized by Main Street Vineland, with major sponsorship by G.E. Mechanical. It’s set for December 3, from 5 to 9 p.m., December 4, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and December 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It will be an opportunity to clock back to Christmas days of yesteryear—a weekend loaded with activities and opportunities to enjoy great times and holiday shopping on The Ave. Enjoy live music, holiday movies, Yuletide characters and décor, food, stories, carriage rides, fun with Santa Claus, and lots more—just like olden times. Things will get started that Friday, with a ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m., at the Landis Theater, 830 E. Landis Avenue, featuring CBS 3 Eyewitness News television personality Jim Donovan.
Event chairperson Josie Spinelli and a subcommittee of volunteers have been working for months on this event; it’s something you won’t want to miss. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available and volunteers are being sought to help coordinate events and to play characters.
Speaking of holiday shopping, take advantage of this great opportunity to shop The Ave. Our merchants have unique, locally made items that could be just the thing for that special holiday gift. The Spot, at 618 E. Landis Avenue, has over 80 vendors with items for gift-giving and home-decorating. They’ll be open during the event on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’re otherwise open seven days a week. Other downtown merchants also may be open late during this event.
Now let’s jump back to the Main Street Vineland Christmas Parade—on Saturday, November 27. It’ll start at 5 p.m.; if the weather doesn’t cooperate, it’ll be held the next day at the same time. This year’s theme is “An Olde Fashioned Christmas on The Ave.” The major sponsor is Friends of Michael Testa Jr. for State Senate, with Newfield National Bank and Lidl as a supporting sponsors. Trophies will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in both the “Large Float” and “Petite Float” categories. Volunteers are currently being sought to help coordinate on the night of the parade and additional parade sponsorship opportunities are available.
Applications to be in the parade or to be a vendor can be obtained by going to TheAve.biz—where the rules and regulations can be reviewed. To be a participant, an application must be completed online. Registration for participants is free but all registrations must be received by this Friday, November 19. Registration is required to participate in the parade; no registrations will be allowed on parade night.
