Benton Chamber plans the annual Christmas parade

BENTON, Mo. — The city of Benton will deck the streets with holiday cheer for this weekend’s fourth annual Benton Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

According to Jim Wade, president of the Benton Chamber of Commerce, the Christmas parade will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.

The Christmas parade is organized by the city of Benton, the Benton Chamber of Commerce and local churches, and according to Wade, the idea for the parade came about in 2020 when the annual Benton Neighbor Day and parade in September were unable to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The year of COVID-19 prevented us from having our annual Neighbor Day,” Wade said. “So we decided to have the Christmas parade right after that time, and once it got started, we couldn’t stop it.”

Wade said the community enjoys the Christmas parade, and it is now something the town looks forward to every year. The parade has also grown significantly, he said.

“Last year, the Christmas parade was just about the same size as the Neighbor Day parade,” Wade said. “As far as attendance, the town will be full, and I would say the numbers are about the same as the number of people who come to Neighbor Day as well.”

The parade route is the same as the Neighbor Day parade route, and the line up at the ballpark will start around 4:30 p.m. Parade participants do not need to preregister. There will be a $100 prize for the best float.

“Anyone who wants to have a float in the parade just needs to show up a little after four o’clock, and we will get them lined up,” Wade said.

According to Wade, Benton Chambers’ Santa sleigh-themed float and Boomland’s float will be some of the parade’s highlights.

“There will also be Santa Claus in the parade, and the Kelly High School band will be in it as well,” Wade said. “What makes the Christmas parade so great is that it allows for community involvement and brings the community together during the Christmas season.”

Following the parade, there will be fireworks at the Benton Ballpark, as well as a campfire at the pavilion.