Written by: Anaya Parker
The Christmas spirit returned to Collegedale on Sunday as the city’s Christmas Parade marched through the campus of Southern Adventist University.
The event started at 3 p.m. and lasted about an hour, with a lively crowd cheering on the sidelines as the parade went down the road.
The parade route started at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists and followed University Drive to Brock Hall. It involved several schools, businesses, scout groups, first responders and local and state political representatives, among them Collegedale Mayor Morty Lloyd.
One of the largest schools to participate was Ooltewah High School, which brought several performing groups. The high school band was one of the groups at the front of the parade.
“I found the parade to be absolutely astounding and exciting,” said Thien-An Le, a freshman theology major. “I just love music, and the band made a fine touch to the parade.”
According to Christina Clark, parks and recreation supervisor for the City of Collegedale, around 50 local businesses and groups participated, including gold sponsors McKee Foods and Morning Pointe Senior Living. Other participants were C&M Disposal, which featured the Grinch riding on a trash bin; and Wright Pediatric Dentistry, which showcased a tractor towing a VW Beetle.
Most participating groups handed out treats—from candy canes to Little Debbie snack cakes—to attendees. One of the grinches in the parade spotted a little girl dressed in a Grinch costume and came over to hand her candy. The many smiling faces in the crowd fueled the festive atmosphere.
“I think that sitting here has made me realize how fun it is to just smile and wave and [appreciate] the joy it brings to see people walking around with [cheerful faces],” said Skyler Pankey, a junior automotive service management major.
The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department appeared at the end of the parade with several fire engines honking their horns and flashing lights.
“I really, really enjoyed it,” said Hannah Mortenson, a senior business management major. “I particularly enjoyed the Mr. and Mrs. Claus on top of the fire truck. She [Mrs. Claus] was so, so cute and absolutely beautiful, overall, it was a great parade.”
The parade was founded in 1999 by Steve Ray, who runs a tire service and repair shop in Ooltewah, and was an annual event for nearly two decades. However, according to a 2023 Accent article, Ray transferred responsibility for the parade to the City of Collegedale in 2019. Shortly thereafter, the city was forced to cancel the event due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In the 2023 Accent article, Clark said the city had difficulty finding a suitable parade route for several years and closing Little Debbie Parkway, Ooltewah-Ringgold Road or Apison Pike proved too disruptive to businesses and traffic. However, this year the City of Collegedale Commission asked Southern to host the event, he explained.
City Manager Wayon Hines said he believed the logistics of running the parade through campus would prove safer and more practical for the entire community, as stated in a previous Accent article.
Many families from the community attended, alongside students and faculty from Southern. The sidewalks were filled with eager viewers smiling and laughing.
“It’s really awesome to see such an amazing event,” said Melindy Van Asperen, a general studies major. “It’s very well organized, and people are very generous and kind.”
