Parade weekend approaches with new twist for Fulton, New Bloomfield

November 28, 2012 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated November 28, 2012 at 6:00 a.m.

Pictured decorating a poster for their church float, Fulton Church of God in Christ, is Caragan Cole, Alize' Coleman, Shawnie Hempfield, and McKenzie Washington decorate the Fulton Church of God in Christ's float for the Fulton Jaycee's annual Christmas Parade Dec. 1. Additionally, the New Bloomfield FFA will be organizing the annual parade there Sunday, Dec. 2.
Pictured decorating a poster for their church float, Fulton Church of God in Christ, is Caragan Cole, Alize' Coleman, Shawnie Hempfield, and McKenzie Washington decorate the Fulton Church of God in Christ's float for the Fulton Jaycee's annual Christmas Parade Dec. 1. Additionally, the New Bloomfield FFA will be organizing the annual parade there Sunday, Dec. 2.

When the Fulton Jaycee's and New Bloomfield Christmas parades take to Callaway's streets this weekend, both will feature a unique twist aimed at getting the community more involved.

The New Bloomfield parade, beginning 2 p.m. Sunday, will be organized by the New Bloomfield FFA chapter for the first time this year. The Jaycee's Christmas parade, kicking off at 1 p.m. Saturday, will benefit the SERVE, Inc. food pantry.

Evelyn Thomas, a long-time coordinator of New Bloomfield's annual parade, said it was time to let someone else begin inheriting the tradition.

"My husband and I and a couple other people have done it for years and years, but we've been talking about passing it off to somebody younger," she said.

Thomas said she and her husband had still been doing publicity and finance work for the event, but that the FFA students had taken over all other planning responsibilities, including judging for the $100, $75 and $50 float prizes and selecting longtime New Bloomfield residents and Wildcat supporters Norris and Mary Hill as the parade marshals.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.