BROWNSBURG — A decade-long tradition is still going strong as the 2012 version of the Christmas Under the Stars parade and celebration rattles into town on Dec. 1.
The parade starts at 6 p.m. at the Brown Elementary School parking lot and travels down U.S. 136 to State Road 267 toward town hall.
Once at town hall, the Delaware Trails Elementary School choir will be singing Christmas tunes, the lawn will be decorated with Christmas trees from the community, and Santa Claus will be there greeting children and posing for photos.
“I’d say the best thing about the event is how it involves the community and the businesses around Brownsburg as far as the Christmas spirit that they show, along with their floats and what they do for the town and the event,” said Travis Tranbarger of the Brownsburg Parks Department.
“I just love the fact that a small town has such a big parade. I think it’s just fantastic,” said Town Manager Grant Kleinhenz. “We went last year and it’s amazing it’s already here, but we love it. I love how the town gets excited and prepared for it.”
Tranbarger said attendees can expect another great parade. Last year they had a record number of 43 floats and other parade entries, and this year they’re already approaching that number.
“I can speak for when I got here, and I know we’ve developed a partnership with the town and made it a town wide event,” he said. “We’ve involved the library with the ornament decorating contest to decide the Junior Grand Marshal.”
This year’s winner has yet to be announced, and will come from a children’s ornament making contest at the Brownsburg Public Library through workshops over the last month.
There will also be a new guest making her way to the parade for the first time.
“This year, Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus are riding together,” Tranbarger said.
With weather forecasters calling for 55 degree weather, Tranbarger said he hopes the entire community will come out to enjoy some of the unique Christmas decor and floats that the town has planned.
“I’d say town hall is one of the best places to see the parade from,” he said. “You’re right there so you can see Santa, check out the performances, and this year we have the decorated tree contest out front so people can also walk around the lawn and see those.”
Tranbarger said updates and information is available through the town’s Christmas Under the Stars’ Facebook page at Facebook.com/ChristmasUndertheStars.
Additionally, the parade route is posted online at www.brownsburgparks.com.
Just the facts
WHAT: Christmas Under the Stars
WHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 1
WHERE: Brownsburg Town Hall
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