Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed invites residents and visitors from throughout the midstate to the City of Harrisburg’s 2007 Holiday Parade, set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, 2007, in downtown Harrisburg. The popular annual holiday tradition kicks off the Thanksgiving-Hanukkah-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Year’s Eve Season for the Greater Harrisburg Region.

Harrisburg’s Holiday Parade was begun by the Mayor in 1986 and has since grown to become the region’s largest annual parade. Over $7,500 in appearance monies and cash prizes are awarded to the top three entries in five categories of parade competition. The City-sponsored parade is also a sanctioned competition of the Cavalcade of Bands, which produces judged competitions for high school marching bands across the United States.
Reed said this year’s Holiday Parade theme is "How We Celebrate the Holidays of This Season Across America" and will feature over 2,500 marchers in over one hundred parade units, including giant helium-filled balloons, youth marching units, over a dozen marching bands, and scores of commercial and non-commercial floats and fire trucks.

The 2007 Holiday Parade will once again feature a Military and Veteran’s Division, first added by the Mayor in 2005 to honor the men and women in America’s Armed Forces and those who have served in the past. With Veteran’s Day only a week earlier, the Holiday Parade serves as the perfect opportunity to recognize present military personnel and veterans for their selfless sacrifices and dedication to America’s freedom. The Division will be the lead unit in the Parade and is comprised of current active duty military personnel, reserve and Guard units, as well as veterans groups. The 28th Division Band, vehicles, and various soldier units will be marching. Additionally, troops recently returned from military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo will be amongst those marching.

Reed said the Holiday Parade will kick off with the singing of the National Anthem by Kathleen Torchia and Lynn Panattoni. Immediately following the National Anthem, the Parade will begin with a military fly-over. Highlighting the Military Division will be the Ephraim Slaughter American Legion Post 733 Honor Guard, the PA National Guard 28th Infantry Division Band, Gold Star Mothers and family members, and a variety of military vehicles including the Army’s newest combat vehicle "The Stryker". The Division will be led jointly by Holiday Parade Grand Marshalls Michael J. Novosel, Jr. and wife Margaret. Mr. Novesel is a decorated combat veteran of U.S. Army service in Vietnam. His namesake father, Michael J. Novosel, who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and who is a native of western Pennsylvania, received the Medal of Honor. The local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter is named for him.

The Military Division will also distribute Holiday Cards to the public by Capital Chapter 542 of the Vietnam Veteran’s of America. The public will be invited to sign the cards which will then be shipped to troops in Iraq in time for the Holiday Season.

Prior to the beginning of the parade, The Exchange Club of Harrisburg will once again be distributing small American Flags to young people as has been their tradition for many years. Volunteers participating in the "GiveAKidAFlagToWave Project" distribute thousands of flags to Holiday Parade youth spectators each year, just before the Military Division begins marching along the parade route.

The Mayor said WHTM abc27 will emcee the Holiday Parade live and tape-delay broadcast it across the midstate on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Harrisburg Holiday Parade is the only midstate parade, and with the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, one of only two parades in the Commonwealth that have gained televised status, thus allowing those unable to attend in person to still enjoy the high quality holiday entertainment production.

Parade entries and floats will be judged for prizes based on originality and adherence to the Parade’s theme. Prizes will be awarded by Mayor Reed in the atrium of Strawberry Square beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Joining the City as co-sponsors for the 2007 Harrisburg Holiday Parade are Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region; The Bon-Ton; Capital Blue Cross; Clear Channel Radio Stations BOB 94.9 FM, KISS 99.3 FM, WHP 580; Coca-Cola; Comcast; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Fast Signs; Geico; Giant Food Stores; Hilton Harrisburg & Towers; LB Smith Ford and Lincoln Mercury; 1-800-GOT JUNK?; The Patriot News; PSECU Credit Union; Re/max Realty; River City Express; RSR Realty; Saturn of Harrisburg; Sovereign Bank; Strawberry Square; Sundance Vacations; Wegmans; and WHTM abc27.

Reed said the Holiday Parade will form on City Island and proceed east to Market Square, where the judges and broadcasting review stands are located. The Parade will then travel north on N. 2nd Street to North Street, turn west on North Street to Front Street, and then proceed south on Front Street to the Market Street Bridge, where it will turn west back towards City Island to disband.

The Mayor said on-street parking is free for the day except on Parade route streets, where parking is banned until after the parade and clean-up work are concluded. Parking will not be available on City Island as it is used for Parade formation. Parking will be free at the Market Square Garage (2nd and Chestnut Streets). Parking will also be available in the Walnut Street, Chestnut Street, and River Street Garages at regular rates. For the most accurate and up-to-date parking information for the Holiday Parade, visit www.harrisburgparking.org.

Reed encourages parade attendees to make a full day of it downtown, starting with the Holiday parade, a visit to Strawberry Square or any of the other downtown eateries, and then a stop at the Whitaker Center for the Sciences and Arts, or a visit to The State Museum or the National Civil War Museum.

Area motorists are advised that parade route street closures will begin at 7:00a.m. and run through 1:00p.m. Affected roadways include all lanes of the Market Street Bridge, the north and south parking lots on City Island, N. Front Street from Forster to Market Streets, Market Street from Front to 2nd Streets, N. 2nd Street from Chestnut to North Streets, and North Street from N. 2nd Street to N. Front Streets. Motorists are warned that parking is prohibited after 7:00a.m. along any of the parade route streets, and that all violators will be ticketed and towed.

For more information about the Harrisburg Holiday Parade, please call the City's Department of Parks and Recreation at (717) 255.3020, or visit the official City events website at www.HarrisburgEvents.com.