By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
The 95th Olean Santa Claus Lane Parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
It’s not too late to enter a float today (Sunday) on the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce website, but on Monday morning, GOACC will start assigning parade slots, said Christine Pecherzewski, director of events and operations.
On Friday night, thousands will gather along North Union Street from Delaware Avenue to Lincoln Park to view dozens of floats, bands and dancers make their way down the street toward the roundabout at State and Union where Santa will light the Christmas tree.
As of Friday afternoon, GOACC had received 48 applications for Santa Claus Lane Parade entries. Pecherzewski expects more over the weekend. “We had 70 applications last year,” she said.
On Monday morning “experienced float stagers” will gather at the GOACC offices and go through cards listing all the floats,” said Pecherzewski.
“We split the floats among the three staging groups. Each group will have animals, floats, walkers and fire trucks. You don’t want to bunch five fire trucks in a row,” she said.
“I think there will be an interesting variety in the parade this year,” Pecherzewski said. “There will be a lot of animals and dancers.” Look too for animated floats.
“We want to make sure the floats are decorated,” she said. The floats will be competing for prizes donated by local businesses including the Angelic Spirit Award by Mandy’s Flowers and the Rudolph Award for the best Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in a float.
The parade is presented this year by The Olden Oak Group at Morgan Stanley. Several other businesses are also sponsors.
The parade units will line up on Delaware Avenue before heading down North Union Street. Spectators will line both sides of the street. Seven Mountains Media will broadcast the parade from in front of the Olean Municipal Building.
Pecherzewski expects many businesses and merchants to be open late on Friday to cater to paradegoers.
Something new this year will involve a couple getting engaged at the end of the Santa Clause Lane Parade. ASK Design Jewelers interviewed potential couples planning to get engaged this holiday season and has selected a lucky couple, Pecherzewski said.
Don’t forget to bundle up if you are planning on bringing the family to watch the Santa Claus lane Parade. The long-range forecast calls for temperatures hovering around freezing.
If you are looking to enter a last minute float in the parade, fill out the application at https://www.oleanny.com/paradeapp
