Christmas parade changes cause stink not spirit

By Lindsey Ward

Published: December 4, 2008

Some in Covington are worried about a new change that prohibits throwing candy or prizes from floats.  They worry kids will miss out on the traditional parade excitement.

This time each year Donna Smith gets her grandkids ready to take them to the Covington Christmas parade, but this year she’s upset, because change is in the frigid air.

For the first time ever, the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce sent out a letter to parade entries saying “passing out or throwing candy or prizes is forbidden,” because they worry children standing along side of the parade will run out in front of floats to pick it up.

“Fire department members that drive regular in parades, year in and year out, have been telling us for a couple years that it is not safe for the kids to be running out they cant see them from the big trucks,” explained David Arritt, Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman of the Special Events Committee.

Arritt oversees the Christmas parade for the chamber.  He says there’s a misunderstanding and all the goodies can be given out they just can’t be thrown from the floats, because it’s dangerous.
 
Donna Smith disagrees.

“I’ve never seen them go right up to a moving truck or car,” she said.
   
Word of the changes came out this week and James Smith who goes by Cheeze Claus, was up in arms, because he’s collected thousands of toys to give out at the parade.  He says it’s a good thing they’ve made an exception for him.

“We’d would have had a riot, we actually would have had a riot,” said James Smith

Donna Smith just worries simple traditions will fall to the side.

“It’s kind of like scrooge has entered into the picture,” she said.

“We’re not bah humbug at all, we want people to have a good time,” Arritt said.

The chamber says they’re hearing that float drivers want the changes to be applied to all of the parades in Covington through out the year.