Yule Parade steps off at 7 p.m. Thursday night
One of the most highly anticipated events of the year takes place Thursday night as the annual Cairo Christmas Parade steps off at 7 p.m.
Over 80 entries are currently registered and will parade down Broad Street from the Chamber of Commerce to conclude at First United Methodist Church.
There is no rain in the forecast and temperatures will be milder than usual for this time of year, so a larger than normal crowd is anticipated.
Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jennifer Majors issued one last warning Tuesday that candy is not to be thrown from moving vehicles during the parade. Chamber officials ask that if participants wish to hand out candy to children, to please have people walk along side their float or parade unit and hand out the candy to the eager youngsters rather than throw it out into the crowd.
Chamber officials also urge everyone to put their trash in nearby, convenient trash receptacles. In years past, a large amount of trash and debris is thrown down on the streets and sidewalks of the central business district causing city crews to spend several hours cleaning up downtown on Friday morning.
The city of Cairo will not allow any vehicles to be parked on Broad Street beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday. The parking spots will be marked off for pedestrians only.
This year’s parade features the Cairo High School Syrupmaker Marching Band, the Grady County Middle School Band and the Pelham High Hornet Band. Other musical features will be DJs to Go.
Sponsors for the 2012 edition of the Yule parade include: Ameris Bank, Annell’s Flower Shop, Bank of the Ozarks, Bishop’s Jewelry, Cairo Auto Supply, Cairo City Grill, Cairo IGA, The Cairo Messenger, Cairo Tire, Capital City Bank, The Law Office of Kevin S. Cauley, Center Drugs, Citizens Bank, CNS-Cairo, Cox Pharmacy, Drew Oil Company, Five Star Credit Union, Graco Fertilizer, Grady EMC, Greensouth Equipment, Hobson Chevrolet-Buick, Higdon Grocery Co., J & J Carpets, Ken Young Company, Koyo, Lehman & Heard, LLP, McDonald’s, Miss Myrt’s, Monrovia Growers, Mr. Chick, Porter Insurance Agency, Southern Insurance Managers, Stallings Motors, Stone’s, and United National Bank.
The units registered for this year’s parade are as follows:
2012 CHRISTMAS PARADE LINEUP
Cairo High School NJROTC
Washington Middle School Cheerleaders
Grady County Middle School Band
Legacy Twirling Academy
Grady County Woman of the Year
Grady County Man Of the Year
Grady County Community Service
Grady County Farm Family of the Year
City of Cairo/CNS
Grady County Board of Commissioners
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop
State Rep. Darlene Taylor
Decatur/Grady Head Start
Northside Elementary School
MLK Collaborative
Cox Pharmacy
Grady County 10 & Under Baseball All-stars
Grady County Teacher of the Year
Southside School
Grady County 8 & Under Football All-stars
Grady County 12 & Under Football All-stars
Grady County 10 & Under Football All-stars
Our Fathers House Church
Firm Dance Company
Jim Scarbrough State Farm
Grady EMC
Grady County Special Olympics
American Red Cross
Hardee’s
DJ’s to Go
D P S Tax Professionals
Little Ones Daycare
City of Whigham Fire Department/Boy Scouts
Whigham School Pageant – Future Little Miss
Whigham School Pageant – Little Miss
Whigham School Pageant – Young Jr Miss
Whigham School Pageant – Junior Miss
Whigham School
Goodwill Industries
Favor Christian Academy (1 of 2)
Favor Christian Academy (2 of 2)
Pine Level Baptist Church
Cairo/Grady Boys & Girls Club
Auntie Ann’s Daycare (1 of 2)
Auntie Ann’s Daycare (2 of 2)
United National Bank
Pelham Band
Cairo Christ Gospel Church
SWGA Technical College
Xtreme Riders of Cairo
Cairo IGA
Climax Fire Dept.
Shiver School
Koyo
Parramore Preschool
Stallings Motors
Seminole Marine
GreenSouth Equipment (1 of 2)
GreenSouth Equipment (2 of 2)
Cairo Housing Authority – Troop #450
Eastside School – Teacher of the Year
Eastside School – King & Queen
Eastside School
Flint River Harvest Pageant – Mini-Supreme Queen
Flint River Harvest Festival – Teen Miss
Pinewood Nursing Center
New Hire Solutions
Mitchell County Ford/Pricepoint Car Sales
Rental Equipment & Sales
New Jerusalem Church (1 of 2)
New Jerusalem Church (2 of 2)
Georgia Powersports of Thomasville
Astro Pest Control
Lisa’s Hair Reflection
Greater New Corinth
Emily’s Personal Care Home
St. Luke PB Youth
Jay’s 24 Hour Tire Repair (1 of 2)
Jay’s 24 Hour Tire Repair (2 of 2)
U.S. Post Office
Grady County Forestry Pageant
Brother’s Deer Processing
Cairo High School Cheerleaders
Cairo High School Band
Cairo Fire Department
Santa Claus
