Christmas Parade Tomorrow, With Pre-Parade Candy Kickoff All Along Parade Route

Taking many cues from last year’s exceptionally successful parade, the 2024 Night Of Lights parade will again be a combination of traditional customs and new features, says Chamber Toccoa/Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen. 

The event, which is scheduled for tomorrow evening will have a ‘Christmas Through The Years’ theme in honor of Toccoa’s 150th anniversary, and Paysen says the Chamber is gearing up for an exciting event.

WNEG News sat down with Paysen yesterday to chat about the event.

She talked about the factors that led to the decision to not facilitate candy being distributed during the parade this year, citing safety concerns expressed not only by citizens and parade participants, but law enforcement officers. 

She then talked about the pre-parade Candy Kickoff that the Chamber and local business owners have created to provide a much safer option for children to enjoy some sweet treats along the parade route prior to the main event.

She said businesses and restaurants downtown will be open both before and during the parade, and talked about the shoppers guide that the Chamber has created to help citizens take advantage of the shopping and dining opportunities from local businesses. 

She talked about some of the entries to expect in the parade, and mentioned that the event would happen, rain or shine.

She said that, as per tradition, Santa will be the last entry in the parade, but added that Santa will have an extra duty this year. 

With the annual parade being sponsored, organized and funded by the Chamber of Commerce, as opposed to a city-sponsored event, Paysen said that the timing of the event went through several changes in the past four years as Chamber officials and member businesses tried to find a time slot that worked best for participants, citizens and businesses, which the Chamber exists to support. 

She stressed that, although the parade is now an evening event to take advantage of the beautiful lights in downtown and on the parade floats, the event will only last until shortly after 8, and should not interfere with school or work activities the following day.

Again, the 2024 Toccoa Christmas Parade will take place tomorrow, Dec. 12, beginning at 7 p.m., with the pre-parade Candy Kickoff beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Night of Lights Parade will follow the traditional route for the Toccoa Christmas Parade, which starts on Doyle Street near Troup’s Photo Studio,  takes a left off Doyle Street onto Sage Street then turns right onto Foreacre before turning right again at Alexander and finishing up at Savannah Street.

There will be coverage of the parade on the Visit Toccoa social media platforms, and WNEG News will be announcing the floats, and will be livestreaming portions of the parade on the WNEG Radio Facebook page.

Paysen said streets shut down for the parade later in the afternoon, but that shopping and downtown restaurants will be open all day and urged people to come downtown and support local businesses.

For more information, contact the Chamber at 706-886-2132.