Weaverville – Hundreds turned out Saturday (Dec. 2nd) for the Weaverville Holiday Parade as parents and children enjoyed floats and vehicles from area businesses, churches, and civic groups. This year’s parade marked a number of changes, including a name change, an entry fee, a new starting point, and a license check for the drivers in the parade.
This year’s parade started from an assembly area behind the post office instead of the North Buncombe Middle School. There was also a limit on the number of float entries as well as an entry fee that goes to the Weaverville Cops for Kids Program. Drivers in the parade also had their licenses verified as a result of a new state law.
The change in the name from Weaverville Christmas Parade to Weaverville Holiday Parade was a unilateral move by the mayor and was not something voted on by the entire council. The Tribune asked our followers questions on Facebook: “Did you go? How was it? Does it make a difference to you whether it is called a Holiday or a Christmas parade?”
Out of the more than 275 comments received, most overwhelmingly supported the name “Christmas” over “Holiday.” Here are some of those responses:
Linda Proffitt – What season are we celebrating? Christmas! It should be a Christmas Parade!
Aniisha Anna Maria – Let’s have multiple Parades; it is a holiday season and there is more than one tradition to celebrate. I say bring on the Christmas Parade, the Hanukkah Parade, the Kwanza Parade, and any other that people want to organize!
Mark Stover – Lots of holidays around this time. I’m not so fragile as to expect a parade be called the holiday I enjoy this time of year. Including, making room at the inn, opening to Love for all, not just my tribe, is at the heart of Christmas. Enjoy Santa at the parade!
Amanda Phelps – Sounds like Weaverville is turning into Asheville. It’s a Christmas Parade. Not holiday!
Melanie Bradley – Unfortunately, I attended the parade. I won’t make that mistake again. It was not worth going to. Although it was nice to see a few churches that had some beautiful floats celebrating Christ. Definitely not the Weaverville I grew up in!
McKenzie Dillingham – Had some of the best floats I’ve seen in the Weaverville parade. (36 years). Glad to see it called the Holiday parade, we are an increasingly diverse town and am glad to have all feel welcome.
No one was stopped from saying Merry Christmas or having an abundance of Christian churches participate.
Brandy Biddix Ponder – Why was there NO music? Not even North Buncombe High Band…. Think it’s great that the fee went to a good cause, however we aren’t in Asheville, This should go back and stay a CHRISTMAS PARADE. Bring back Christmas and the music!!!
Leah Russell – I think it’s fine to call it Holiday Parade. It’s not taking away from one religion, it’s including all. There are so many different holidays, celebrated by many different religions this time of year. It’s all-inclusive, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Those wishing to read all the responses can go to the Tribune Papers‘ Facebook.