IT’S AN annual event that’s circled on calendars. Plans are put on hold or moved to another day. Phone calls are made for carpool arrangements, and getting a good seat is of the utmost importance.
No, it’s not a wedding or a funeral. It’s a family gathering of sorts that has been taking place for more than half a century and requires the attendance of the entire town of Cowan, along with neighboring towns and counties. For the citizens of Cowan, it’s the official kickoff to the Christmas season and what both locals and visitors alike know as the Cowan Christmas Parade.
This is the 58th year for the parade to roll through downtown Cowan. For parade coordinator Chuck Stines, the parade has become an integral part of this small Southern town.
“It’s always been a big tradition,” he said. “It’s the symbolic kickoff of Christmas, especially for Cowan and Franklin County. It’s been running for 58 years, and it’s a point of our identity.”
Fellow parade coordinator Mary Pearson added that both she and Stines have been attending since childhood, and the event is considered a family gettogether of sorts.
“It’s something you have to be at,” she said. “It’s like weddings and funerals; you have to be there. We always have a crowd. The weather usually dictates just how large. But no matter what, people come out. Everybody has [had] their favorite thing since they were a kid, and we try to keep some of those things in the parade.”
Favorites include Shriners and their miniature cars, the color guard being carried in by horse and, of course, Santa Clause.
Santa might in fact be the most important part of the parade. Pearson said that while they are pretty lax when it comes to rules about the parade, Santa and his presentation is a well-known rule and respected by parade participants.
“Santa is always at the end riding on a fire truck,” she said. “We ask people not to have a Santa on their floats or to dress like him. They can have depictions of Santa, but we want Santa to be the main event for the parade.”
THE MORE, THE MERRIER
While there is a protocol about Santa, it’s not all rules and regulations. Stines said that they welcome any and all to come and participate in the parade.
“We typically have over 100 entries,” he explained. “We have different categories, but we don’t specify any certain things. Once we set a certain theme, it has to be decorated, and there are certain rules you have to follow. But if you want to decorate your car you can as long as it fits the rules and theme. Children can even decorate a wagon and pull it if they like. We want as much participation as we can have and for the parade to be as big as it can.”
Stines also added that the parade committee welcomes ideas and themes from the community in regards to the parade so that it can continue moving forward for the future.
“We welcome the community to bring ideas, donations, and participation,” he said.
Donations are also a big part of the success of the parade, according to Stines. Candy donations help exponentially when it comes time for Santa to make his big trip down Main Street.
“It takes a lot of candy,” said Stines. “If people or organizations want to donate we are glad to take it. You can donate [leftover] Halloween candy or stop and grab a bag or two at the store. As long as it is individually wrapped we will take it. We will also make sure you get recognized.”
While there is no parade entry fee, Stines said they are happy to take donations of canned goods that will go to food donation centers to help feed locals who are in need.
“[We] don’t charge an entry fee, but we ask if you can, to bring donations of food that will go into food boxes for the community,” he said.
For the future, Stines said the parade committee hopes to achieve a 501(c)(3) status that will aid in helping to fund the parade.
“One of our goals is to get to being a 501(c)(3) to help us ensure more donations. If we put a number on it, it takes us about $5,000 to put on the parade,” he explained.
Stines said the parade committee works diligently to give back to the community while encouraging everyone to participate in this long held community tradition.
“We always try to pick a project to give back to, such as the Shriners and the local schools,” he said. “The last few years have been rebuilding due to Covid, but I think that people are starting to come back out like they used to. There’s just so much tradition. It’s about community and community identity. I think that’s why people love it so much. We invite the community and surrounding communities to come and be a part of it in whatever way they can.” GN
