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Forget about the Macy’s annual holiday parade, Chesapeake doesn’t just have one, in fact, it has two, both on Dec. 7. That’s twice the holiday fun, at either end of the city: Great Bridge and Western Branch.
And they’re timed so families can catch both magical events. Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a festive parade?
Let’s start in Western Branch, around the Chesapeake Square mall area at 4200 Portsmouth Blvd. The 8th annual Chick-fil-A Christmas Parade will march around the mall’s Chesapeake Square Ring Road from 9 until 10 a.m.
Presented by the Portsmouth Boulevard Chick-fil-A franchise, this now annual Western Branch holiday event will feature marching bands and units, floats, and community and civic parade squads.
Chesapeake Square Ring Road will close at 6:30 a.m. to prepare for the parade. Free parking will be available inside Chesapeake Square Ring Road where mall parking lots are not marked off with cones and available in parking areas of businesses outlining the mall.
And if you’re inspired by the parade, further your holiday experience by Christmas shopping at the Western Branch High Christmas Craft Show from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Dec. 7.
The show at the school — 1968 Bruin Place — will offer shoppers an array of choices including gift items, Christmas and holiday decor, wreaths and ornaments, festive candles, handcrafted jewelry, artworks, pottery, apparel and even holiday edibles.
Admission is free. Visit tinyurl.com/tuv3dft for more information.
Need more parade action? Head over to Great Bridge later on Dec. 7 for the 36th annual Chesapeake Rotary Christmas Parade from 6 until 9 p.m.
Get there early to find a spot to watch the parade that begins at Mount Pleasant Road, turns right onto South Battlefield Boulevard and marches left onto Cedar Road where it proceeds in front of Chesapeake City Hall.
If you are early, have fun waiting for the parade at the Central Library’s Holiday Parade Pre-Party from 4 until 6 p.m. The main library at 298 Cedar Road will offer a family storytime, holiday crafts, a sing-along of carols and fun Christmas songs, and hot cider and chocolate for all. Admission is free for all ages. Call 410-7129 for more info.
The Chesapeake Rotary Christmas Parade’s theme this year is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Co-Chairs and Rotarians Mike Love and Anthony Draper have planned a grand parade to include floats, marching bands, dance troupes, pageant winners, city dignitaries and community leaders, various antique, custom and luxury vehicles, marching squads and even jolly ol’ St. Nick.
For more details, call 685-3209 or visit chesapeakerotary.org.
THE LIGHTS! THE LIGHTS!
Want to be dazzled by lights this Christmas? Don’t pay to drive through some commercial holiday lights event, simply board the entire family in the car and drive through three Chesapeake neighborhoods. You and your children will be dazzled and admission to all three is free, although a couple ask for donations to worthy causes.
At 705 Tallahassee Drive, the Holt family will showcase their holiday light show from 5:30 to 10 p.m. each evening until Dec. 25.
The Pugh Family Christmas Light Show at 902 Heydon Court will amaze viewers from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 1. The family asks the public for a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association as a gesture of holiday goodwill.
For more visual dazzle, set to music heard on 89.7 FM as you drive by, check out the Sheely Family Lights at 703 Ava Court. View this immense show with more than 40,000 lights from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 31. A donation to the Eliza Hope Foundation is asked.
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And, remember, when driving through these neighborhoods, please be respectful of the residents and their properties and of other drivers. These lights are gifts to Chesapeake.
HOLIDAY LUNCH AND BETTER
Those, ages 55 and older, (and better), are invited to attend the Chesapeake Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s 55 and Better division’s annual Holiday Luncheon.
The festive gathering is from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at Oscar Smith High School, 1994 Tiger Drive.
For $10 per person, partiers will enjoy seasonal entertainment, a catered holiday meal and other fun holiday party activities. And be sure to show up in your ugliest, loudest Christmas sweater.
Make sure you sign up no later than Dec. 2 at any Chesapeake community center or at the parks and recreation administrative office/visitor center at 1224 Progressive Drive. Tell them it’s for program #6478-02 and let the festivities begin.
Eric W. Feber, ewjfeber@gmail.com