Click the ABOVE photo to see one of our slideshows of the 2022 Christmas Parade. Then, click the BELOW photos to see even more pictures from the parade that was held this past Sunday, December 11, 2022 in Murfreesboro!
(Murfreesboro, TN) The annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade was a great success with perfectly cool weather this past Sunday, December 11th. An estimated crowd of well-over 30,000 people showed up to watch the parade. The route of the event went down East Main Street, around the square and ended on North Walnut Street. This year, the Grand Marshal’s of the parade were Bart and Leeann Walker of WGNS Radio.
You may recall in years past; Mrs. Walker organized the long-time Murfreesboro tradition of the holiday parade. In 2021, she began the process of handing over the torch to the Parks and Rec. Department. This year marked the first year that the parks department oversaw, planned and executed the parade without the lead of the Walker family. Leeann said, “I am excited to see the annual tradition continue and I look forward to seeing the parade for many years to come.”
Best Float (Business or Industry
Bullseye Gun and Range (130 Shelby Street; Murfreesboro)
Best Walking Group
Dance Academy
Best Float (Civic, Scoug, Social)
Stones River National Battlefield (3501 Old Nashville Highway)
Best Vehicle Entry
Larry Parker
Best Church or School Entry
Bradley Creek Missionary Baptist Church
Mayor's Cup
North Boulevard Church of Christ
Record Turnout - Assistant Director of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department and Parade Coordinator Rachel Singer noted, "The lack of rain or snow and temps in the mid 50s added to the record turnout along the route. Plus, a large number of entries helped to attract even more spectators."
Over 160 floats, marching bands, and of course Santa in his sleigh helped to make the season bright.
After coordinating the local parade for over 35-years, WGNS Good Neighbor Radio has passed the baton to Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation.
Grand Marshals - WGNS' Lee Ann Walker remembers, "In 1984 the Chamber of Commerce told WGNS that if the radio station didn't take over the parade, the community might possibly not have the family event. We agreed to try it on a short-term basis, and that lasted for over 35-years."
In fact, Lee Ann and her husband Bart operate the family owned local radio station that celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The couple are the Grand Marshals in this year's parade.
Lee Ann said, "I loved working with the many talented people in the Heart of Tennessee to create this annual event that has brought so many people together. Those 35-plus years flew quickly, and I will miss working with all of the wonderful people associated with this community event."
She particularly thanked the late Fayne Haynes who created an early special Santa float and provided the candy for the early years of the parade and more recently ATMOS Energy, along with the Stones River Amateur Radio Club for handling entry coordination and communications to all parts of this massive event, and also the Murfreesboro Noon Exchange Club helped with the check-in and line-ups of the parade in past years.
She also said that Murfreesboro Police have kept all intersections safe along the parade route, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office's horse patrol for riding along with the Santa float and Middle Tennessee State University for graciously opening their campus to allow space for the parade line-up over the years.
Walker noted, "It has always been a community event that has been spearheaded by involved volunteers."
In addition to the public being able to line East Main Street and enjoy the parade, they can also tune to Murfreesboro City TV 3 and watch it "live" or during some of the "repeats" on the cable and streaming government television service.
A look back at the Christmas Parade in 2021 (Click each photo below to see more pictures).
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