25th Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade Set for Dec. 7; No New Participant Applications Sought

From the Bel Air Christmas Parade:

BEL AIR, MARYLAND: The 25th Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade announces that it is no longer accepting new applications or inquiries about participation, as it works towards its event date of Sunday, December 7.

“We have a lot of paperwork organization yet to do, leading up to the parade, and we already have a wonderful collection of parade performers, including more “costumed characters” than ever before,” says Michael Blum, Parade Chairman. “If you have already been in contact with the parade, that’s fine,” Blum adds.

The Bel Air Christmas Parade and Celebration are open and free to all. This year’s event begins with an outdoor band concert from 2;30 – 3:30 pm on the steps of the Harford County Courthouse on Main Street, by the Route 66 Band. The Parade steps off at 3:30 pm, with the same route as before: from the Oyster House Restaurant down to Lee Street, then right on Lee Street to Har-Co Credit Union. All are then invited to Shamrock Park, where the Bel Air Community Band is playing music of the season in the Humbert Band Shell, and free hot chocolate and cookies will be given out to all (while they last!). A cheery bonfire will also occur, and the entire event ends with the lighting of the Bel Air Town Christmas Tree, around 4:50 pm.

Narration of the parade is by radio personality Tracy Hart, and the MC of the Shamrock Park part is “Captain” Jim McMahan.

Scheduled to appear in the parade are local high school bands from Bel Air High School, C. Milton Wright High School, Edgewood High School, Fallston High School, John Carroll School, Joppatowne High School and Patterson Mill High School. The parade also features dancers, twirlers, jugglers, stilts-walkers, floats, miniature horses, beauty queens including Miss Maryland and Miss Bel Air, and more. At the end Santa and Mrs. Santa usher in the Christmas Season.

If you have any question as to whether your unit, organization or troop has been accepted into the parade, please contact Michael Blum via e-mail at michaelblum@martinoblum.com.