A parade known to amp up Christmas spirit and attract thousands faces an obstacle organizers can do little about.
Weather predictions Friday call for a 70 percent chance of rain and temperatures in the mid 30s when the Gastonia Christmas parade kicks off 2 p.m. Sunday.
But Gaston County Jaycees President Andrea Grenier says as always the Gastonia Christmas Parade remains a rain or shine event – with one exception.
“It is rain or shine, but if it starts to sleet we will call it off by noon,” Grenier said Friday.
Gaston County Jaycees have organized the Christmas Parade for 66 years and this year’s edition has 102 entrants. The parade route begins near the old Sears building on Franklin Boulevard across from the YMCA and continues almost two miles to Belvedere Avenue.
Parade participants start lining up between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Grenier said. Gastonia Police officers close that stretch of Franklin Boulevard down at 1:30 p.m., according to the city.
But Jaycees say they will just cross their fingers and hope iffy weather predictions won’t put a damper on an annual holiday event.
“We just love spreading Christmas spirit,” Grenier said.
You can reach Online Editor Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or on Twitter.com @TheGazetteKevin.