Bentonville Parade Set For Saturday

— More than 50 floats, festooned with garland and topped with holiday scenes, will wind their way around the downtown square during the annual holiday parade Saturday. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and coincides with a number of holiday events in the city.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling for a 60 percent chance of rain Saturday, but Daniel Hintz, executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc., said the event will go on “rain or shine.”

“We’re moving forward,” Hintz said. “We’re saying there’s a 40 percent chance of sun.”

The government weather center’s website says most of the rain will likely come in the afternoon.

The theme is “Holiday Traditions” with more than 75 groups set to participate, according to Hintz. Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin will be joined by the Salvation Army in leading the parade.

AT A GLANCE

Parade Route

The 2011 Bentonville Holiday Parade will follow the same route it has in previous years.

• The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Main and Southwest Eighth streets.

• Floats will travel north on Main Street to the square.

• The parade will turn left just north of the square onto Northwest Second Street.

• The parade will finish up near the Midtown Shopping Center at the corner of Northwest A and Northwest Second streets.

For more details, visit downtownbentonville.org.

Source: Staff Report

Bicyclists from around Benton County will serve as marshals to help patrol the parade route. About 40 cyclists from Boston Mountain Cyclists, Mojo Cycling, the Bentonville High School Mountain Bike team and Friends at Slaughter Pen Trails will participate, according to Alan Ley, Bike Bentonville director.

A parade review stand in front of the Walmart Visitor Center on the square will serve as a home base for judges Don Overstreet of Overstreet’s Jewelers and Sarah Nelson of Tusk & Trotter. The two will determine winners in float and nonfloat categories, which will be announced later online at www.downtownbentonville.org.

The 2011 Winter Wonderland Court, selected through a pageant Nov. 19, will ride in the parade. The court consists of Miss Winter Wonderland Haley House, Teen Miss Winter Wonderland Destiny Hicks, Princess Winter Wonderland Caroline Long, Junior Miss Winter Wonderland Emma Bryant, Little Miss Winter Wonderland Molly Hicks and Tiny Miss Winter Wonderland Victoria Delacruz.

In addition to the parade, visitors can visit with Mrs. Claus and listen to story time at School Squared on the south side of the square and listen to holiday songs performed by Stage One on the review stand at 10:30 a.m.

Parade-goers can start off their day with a Breakfast With Santa at the First United Methodist Church at 201 N.W. Second St. beginning at 9 a.m. All proceeds from a pancake and sausage breakfast, along with pictures with Santa, will benefit a scholarship fund sponsored by the Explore and Discover Preschool at the church. The breakfast will wrap up as the parade begins at 11 a.m.

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