City of College Station Blog

By Colin Killian, Public Communications Director

In this week’s episode of “What’s Up, College Station?” Grace Hallowell and University and Community Relations Manager Barbara Moore discuss the details of the College Station Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7. A new twist this year is a contest to determine the most creative float or performance.

The “What’s Up, College Station?” podcast is available weekly via Podbean, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Amazon/Audible. Please subscribe, rate, and recommend!

If you have a suggestion for a future topic or interview, email me at ckillian@cstx.gov. 

TRANSCRIPT EXCERPTS

Grace Hallowell:

We are in that holiday mood. We are excited for Christmas, and I know I am. And we’re here to talk about the College Station Christmas Parade.

Barbara Moore:

Awesome. Yes, we are.

Grace Hallowell:

And this is the second year that we’re doing the parade.

Barbara Moore:

Yes, it is.

Grace Hallowell:

The first year, we took it over from the BCS Parade.

Barbara Moore:

Yes.

Grace Hallowell:

And it is a very highly anticipated event every Christmas.

Barbara Moore:

It is. And we are so glad to be able to still provide that for our community. I know when BCS Parade was unable to go on last year, we worked with them, and got their blessing to say, “Hey, can we take a shot at trying to do this?” And they were like, “Have at it.” So we had not a lot of time last year to pull it together very quickly, and it was a beautiful team effort by the city staff as well as our community to come out and support us. So this is year two, it’s a lot more things are in order, so the structure and everything was a lot easier this year. So we’re hoping that it will also be another great opportunity for our community to embrace the Christmas season.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. So if you attended last year, there is a new element this year, which is a kind of contest for the participants to see who has the most creative float.

Barbara Moore:

Yes. So the BCS Christmas Parade used to do that, but we did not have time to incorporate that element last year, so we did this year. So we will have judging for your floats as well as some of the groups that may be dancing or cheer so they can get to show off their originality as well. So that is a new aspect this year that we hope will bring a little friendly competition too to the community and kind of give the parade a little notch up this year.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And I know even last year we had so many creative floats, so we will definitely have more this year-

Barbara Moore:

We will.

Grace Hallowell:

… to crown the winner, so to speak.

Barbara Moore:

Absolutely. We are excited about that.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And it is all about fun and celebrating Christmas.

Barbara Moore:

It is. It is.

Grace Hallowell:

So it’s a friendly competition.

Barbara Moore:

It’s a good, friendly competition.

Grace Hallowell:

Okay. So where can people go to park to view the parade? I know that’s a big important aspect.

Barbara Moore:

Always. So they can go and park at Post Oak Mall, and then there are a number of city facilities, also the Meyer Center, which is on Dartmouth. And they can also park at the police department. And the area where our municipal court and utility service centers are located on Krenek Tap Road. All of those areas are good places to park. And I know there are some places in between, but those are places that we recommend and know will be good and safe and have ample parking for those who want to come to the parade.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And I guess we should mention the route, it’s the same as last year.

Barbara Moore:

It is the same as last year.

Grace Hallowell:

But for a refresher or for people who this will be their first time joining, what is the route of the parade?

Barbara Moore:

So it’ll start at the back of Holleman, kind of across from where the old Sears Center and USDA Building was. It’ll come down a little bit of Holleman. We’ll turn left on Dartmouth, go down Dartmouth cross Southwest Parkway, and then turn left on Krenek Tap and end at Central Park.

Grace Hallowell:

All right. Yes. So this is a lot of information we’re talking about, and I know I’m a visual learner and I need to look at a map to see what I’m hearing. So where can people find out more information?

Barbara Moore:

Yes, they can go to our website at cstx.gov/parade. So all things parade will be located there.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And we really encourage people to come to the parade, dress up in your ugly Christmas sweaters.

Barbara Moore:

Absolutely.

Grace Hallowell:

Bring your friends, your family.

Barbara Moore:

Bring your pets.

Grace Hallowell:

Your pets, yes.

Barbara Moore:

Absolutely. We saw lots of pets last year.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. And this year we also have some music that’ll be playing. So you can definitely have a dance party on the sidelines.

Barbara Moore:

Yes, you sure can, yes.

Grace Hallowell:

Just feel the Christmas spirit.

Barbara Moore:

Absolutely. And we’re hoping that once the parade ends this year, one thing that is a little bit different, we’re starting a little later, we’re starting at four p.m. instead of two. So hopefully everybody remembers that, four p.m. Instead of two. But hopefully by the time that it’s all over, people will stick around and will go to the Lights On Ceremony at Christmas In The Park. It was a great lead-in last year to that event. And so we hope that people do the same thing this year too.

Grace Hallowell:

Yes. As soon as you see Santa on his sleigh, you know that it’s time to head to the park.

Barbara Moore:

Time to head to the park.

Grace Hallowell:

And the lights will be on, and there’ll be food and games and snowslides.

Barbara Moore:

Absolutely. A ton of fun, so we hope-

Grace Hallowell:

Even more Christmas fun.

Barbara Moore:

Absolutely. So we hope people will just make a day of it and come out and celebrate Christmas in College Station.

Grace Hallowell:

All right, well thank you so much for being here today, Barbara.

Barbara Moore:

Thank you for having me.

If you liked this post, share it with the buttons below!