12/04/2025
🎄Decatur Christmas Parade🎄
Tomorrow is the big day, so I just wanted to put out some reminders for everyone and go over some VERY IMPORTANT instructions to follow.
•For those that are able to help decorate, please message me (Ashton Wallace). This way we can coordinate everything!
•Parade is at 6pm, children need to be at float by 5pm. The float will be in the church parking lot as in previous years. Parents, please do not just bring your children and leave them without checking in with me first. I am one person and I do not want any children walking off and getting hurt or lost!
•After the parade is over, we will make our way back to the church parking lot for parents to collect their children. Please make sure that your children know to not leave the float or walk until they have checked in with me. This is VERY important because the safety of each child is my top priority!
•Please also explain to your children that are riding the float that the MUST REMAIN SEATED for the entire duration of the parade! Every year we have issues with kids jumping around, leaning too far over the railing, and not following instructions when told to stay seated. This is a major liability issue and we will not continue to participate in the parade if these rules cannot be followed. We’ve had children get hurt before because of children getting too rowdy and rough housing on the float.
•We prefer that your child not bring candy to throw out, BUT IF they do, please show them how to GENTLY toss the candy. Please inform them that when they are out, they’re out and to not fight with other children over candy. This is what leads to a lot of the rough housing on the float: fighting over candy!
•Please make sure that your child is dressed warmly and if they bring/wear anything festive, have it labeled with their name so there are no issues with anyone fighting over what belongs to them!
This might seem like a lot, but again SAFETY for all the children involved is our top priority! These are all things we have had issues with in previous years and we would like to avoid them this year. If we continue to have too many issues, we will not continue to do the parade.
Thank you so much for your understanding and I look forward to a great time tomorrow! 💚❤️ -Ashton Wallace