CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The 40th annual Chesapeake Rotary Christmas parade is happening this Saturday, December 2 and the parade's chairman, Harry Murphy dropped by to tell us all the jolly details.
"My wife and I moved to Chesapeake in '85, and I think we either attended or have been in the parade for every year," Murphy told us.
"It's a community parade," he said. "The Chesapeake Rotary runs it, but we couldn't do it without the help of our city and all the other people that volunteer to help us, and there's just like countless volunteers to make this happen.
"It's so cool because a month ahead of time, people start setting up chairs along the parade route and everyone leaves them alone," he continued." So you can't find a parking spot anywhere near the parade route because people park cars there ready for Saturday, and come rain or shine, we're having the parade. It's a big deal.
"It's a small town feel we have everything..." The police and fire department are there. The Coast Guard is involved this year. They're bringing some boats and some people.
"The Chesapeake Rotary - we have our own float at the end of the parade with Santa Claus in it. (He's) coming out of the chimney and we've had Santa Claus fittings into the chimney to make sure he'll fit and then he has a place to rest because, you know, a good Santa Claus is a little bit older. He needs a seat.
"It's about a mile long," Murphy told us. "We go right down Battlefield Boulevard, start near Mount Pleasant, and then go up to Cedar Road where City Hall is. We have an announcer there who will go over what's going on there and talk about each float and everyone gets a little plug (of) either their unit or their facility."
"We have seven high schools in Chesapeake and every year all the bands participate. So there'll be seven marching bands except we're down to six this year because unfortunately for us, but fortunately for Indian River High, they have a playoff game coming up on Saturday so they can't be there. Some of our bands have, you know, upwards of 200 members.
"We kick off at six o'clock with our grand marshall, who's our sheriff, Jim O'Sullivan this year. And then we'll have some dignitaries in the front.
"So, it starts at six o'clock at Mount Pleasant, and it takes probably about 20 minutes till the parade reaches up to City Hall.
"The Great Bridge shopping center is right there. They're one of our sponsors and they really help us out a lot and they never complain about people parking in there and then you can park around City Hall Park in some of the neighborhoods.
"The parade probably lasts about two or two and a half hours by the time the last unit, Santa Claus gets in the City Hall.
"But, but we're excited - the town is excited. Everybody gets up for it, as it should be. It's just a great small-town feel."
Chairman drops by to tell us about the 40th annual Chesapeake Rotary Christmas parade happening this Saturday
The Parade starts at 6 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Road and winds its way to Chesapeake City Hall.