Prize categories encourage parade entries to get creative

Residents participating in this year’s Lancaster Christmas parade will have a chance to win a variety of awards.

Carrie Miller, event coordinator for See Lancaster, said the parade’s organizing committee has announced four categories for this year’s parade, scheduled for Dec. 13. The categories are: best use of lighting, best overall entry, most entertaining walking group and best float.

A team of three judges will select the winners. The winners will each win an engraved plaque, a certificate and $50.

Miller has seen plenty of interest in this year’s parade.

“We’ve had a lot of people enter for the first time this year,” Miller said. “That will be exciting to see what they bring.”

To help everyone see their entry better, Miller encourages every group to incorporate lights into its display, especially since the parade begins at 6 p.m.

This year’s parade will feature members of Lancaster County emergency services, area high school marching bands, dance and karate groups and several floats. There will be six professional floats sponsored by Humana, CN2, Founders Federal Credit Union, Lancaster County and two by the city of Lancaster.

“I hope to see lots of fun lights and original ideas,” Miller said. “I like seeing people dressed up in Christmas stuff.”

See Lancaster is also looking for church groups to join the parade as food vendors. Miller said they have at least three more vendor spaces and participants keep all their profits. If interested, call Miller at 286-1145, extension 22.

Contact reporter Chris Sardelli  at csardelli@thelancasternews.com  or (803) 416-8416