Texas City’s annual Christmas Parade steps off Thursday evening with a gingerbread theme, a 40-year tradition featuring cash awards for standout floats and entries.
On Thursday, the annual Christmas Parade will go through Texas City, bringing a gingerbread-themed party to the streets that are full of people. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. on December 4 and takes the same path that has been a part of the holiday tradition for more than 40 years.
Officials from the city said the parade will begin at Palmer Highway and Phoenix Lane, close to the Nessler Park Complex. It will then go down Palmer to 6th Street and stop at 6th and 5th Avenue North. Along the road, dozens of floats, marching bands, and community groups will be coming through town, so drivers should expect delays.
Since the city started giving cash prizes to encourage creativity and involvement in the parade a few years ago, the competition has grown. "A Gingerbread Christmas" is this year's theme for the floats that are competing for awards in several different categories. Best of Theme is the top award, which comes with a $500 prize. Winners will receive $400 and will be chosen by the mayor. There will also be $300 prizes for outstanding church groups, dance bands, businesses, and individuals.
The event organizers made it clear that players must sign up ahead of time to be eligible for awards or scoring. Furthermore, they told people who were going to or already were in the parade that throwing candy along the route is against the rules for safety reasons.
People in Texas City still look forward to the parade every year; it is one of their favorite holiday events. Many people are still excited about the event, which shows that the community wants to keep up a practice that has been going on for generations.
The City of Texas City's webpage, texascitytx.gov, provides information on how to register, safety rules, and more.
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