Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
With COVID-19 still going strong, many people have had to cancel their usual Christmas plans. Many annual events have had to skip a year because of this virus, as well. However, Mainstreet Monticello really didn't want to cancel the usual downtown Christmas festivities, so they made some changes for safety but made sure that Christmas cheer would still be brought to Monticello this Friday, Dec. 4.
This year the parade will start at 6 p.m. at City Hall and will take place mostly on Cherry Street but end on York Street. The route was extended farther than it typically is to provide space for viewers to spread out.
Downtown will be lit up like always, and Santa will light the tree at the end of the parade, around 6:15 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Due to COVID-19, the usual craft vendors will not be present. Instead, select non-profits will have booths set up to minimize crowding, such as Altrusa—who will be giving out books—and Big Bend Hospice—who will be giving out info on their tree of remembrance.
Along with the non-profit booths, food vendors will be scattered around downtown. A few examples are Monticello BBQ, which will be set up at Oh Happy Day, a local hot dog vendor, set up near the bank on Cherry Street, and the Boy Scouts, who will be selling chili.
The biggest thing to remember during this event, though, is that the local shops will be open late, so remember to stop in and support our local businesses.