Preparing for Christmas

DKR’s Christmas planning committee has been meeting monthly. Meetings are held at the library on Queen Street at 5:45. The next meeting is September 7. Manpower is necessary to host events! All are welcome. Please come, have some fun with us and make some cool new friends!

Here is where we stand at the moment.

1. We need 6 to 10 men to assist along Queen Street

a. We are working on obtaining a set of radios that synch to the KPD radios that night

b. We are ordering safety vests for these volunteers

2. Work lights have been reserved to place along Queen for additional lighting

3. Dr. Dimitri Thomas of UNC Orthopedics has offered again to sponsor the Level Up Game Truck and laser tag. This will be available free of charge to the public from 9AM to 4PM. It will likely be located at Pearson Park. Please bring the kids and have with them.

4. Each year, we invite downtown merchants to plan a special activity in their businesses for parade day (Saturday December 2). DKR will help promote it. Let’s encourage families to spend the entire day downtown and catch the parade that evening.

5. On Saturday November 18 at 6PM, DKR hosts the lighting of Pearson Park ceremony at which all Christmas lights downtown and in the park are turned on. We encourage all the merchants to have their windows and storefronts ready as part of this Christmas kick-off experience.

6. Captain Dick Knight is this year’s parade Grand Marshal

7. Stevie Parker will be Santa this year

8. Brooks Poole is once again sponsoring and operating the foam canon

9. Neuse News will live-stream the parade to the world

10. Reverend Travis Allen of First Presbyterian Church will deliver our community Christmas prayer at the lighting ceremony

11. Sandra Fisher has offered to sing this year at the lighting ceremony

12. We need someone to spearhead a team creating the Santa float

13. We need someone to design the review stand

14. In an effort to grow the participation of our area schools, any academic school can register at no charge. Show your school spirit and enter the entire school.

15. Last year, Storm Troopers were our surprise escorts for Santa at the Lighting Ceremony. I wonder who it will be this year?

16. Public Services will begin Pearson Park lights installations in October

17. We have parade sponsorships available if you want a large business banner on one of the barricades in front of 8,000+ people. DKR is a 501c3 non-profit. That means your sponsorship is tax deductible as a business expense. Contact Leon Steele at 252-525-6144

18. Information about the popular businesses Tinsel Trail in Pearson Park will be available soon.

19. Registration forms for this as well as the parade will soon be online at www.downtownkinston.com in both English and Spanish.