APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – After a year away due to the pandemic, the Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade is returning to College Avenue on Tuesday.
It’s the 50th Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade, and excitement from the community has parade committee member Eric Stadler predicting a great crowd.
“The community is so happy that the parade is back this year,” Stadler said. “People are really interested in a great parade, but also just looking forward to the opportunity to gather again and to use this as an annual event – like it has been in the past – to kind of kick start the holiday season.”
Each year, the parade has a specific theme. This year, that theme is ‘Superhero Christmas.’
“We have various superheroes throughout our lives, and those could be medical professionals, it might be our our public safety – police and fire – but also our veterans,” Stadler told WTAQ News. “[We have] a veteran unit marching in this year’s parade as superheroes. Not dressed as superheroes, but they already have served our country and are our local superheroes. We have about 60 to 75 veterans that’ll be marching. It’ll be quite a sight.”
But for the kids, yes, it does mean comic book superheroes too.
For those who remain concerned about COVID-19 amid the crowd, Stadler says everyone is encouraged to abide by CDC guidelines as they hit the avenue.
” We still want to make sure everyone is safe when they come down. If you’re not feeling well, don’t come to the parade. Watch it on TV,” Stadler said. “We want everyone to feel safe, but also to be able to take in the event as they have in years passed and come together as a community.”
The parade might not start until 7 p.m., but you can stake the claim to your favorite spot beginning at noon.
“We encourage them to come down early and patronize the local shops, restaurants, and bars. Come down and have something to eat,” Stadler said. “We want to make sure everyone has a prime spot. We encourage people to come down and put your blankets and chairs out early. But if you do so, please don’t do so until after noon – and if you do so that early, please stay with your things.”
Anything left unattended will be cleared and discarded.
You can learn more about the parade on the Appleton Christmas Parade Facebook page.
WTAQ News visited the parade’s last run in 2019:
