Final parade info released for Christmas on Main

The region’s largest and brightest nighttime Christmas parade will roll through downtown London with Santa Claus and his sleigh during the annual Randy Smith Christmas on Main parade and festivities on Friday, December 1.

According to Southern Living Magazine, London Ky, is ranked second as the best Christmas town in Kentucky to visit this holiday season. With a giant Christmas tree at Town Center as the centerpiece and lights strung throughout downtown, people who attend Christmas on Main will see the reason for London’s high ranking.

“Candy Canes & Carols ” is the theme for this year’s Christmas on Main parade that starts at 7 p.m.. The theme allows all entries to bring their favorite Christmas carols to life. All parade participants and vehicles MUST BE DECORATED to celebrate the season, and remember, the more lights, the merrier!

For guests planning to view the parade, we suggest approaching downtown from the west, east, or south. If you are arriving from North London, we advise taking an alternative route, because this area is expected to experience significant congestion due to the parade lineup.

For those planning to be in the parade:

◦ No pre-parade meeting in north London is required if all of your group is already together. instead, join the parade lineup at Main and 16th Street (by Koi Express Food Truck) from the north by 6:30 p.m . If you have to get your group together north of downtown London, please review the list of meetup locations sent to all registered parade participants
◦ In the parade lineup area, opt for the middle or south-bound lane, and advance as much as possible, ensuring continuous alignment with the group ahead.
*Remember-All parade entries must be decorated, even classic cars and trucks.
◦ Once the parade begins, please keep up with the group in front of you. If you have walking member of your group that can't keep up, please encourage them to hop on your float or vehicle.
◦ Only pedestrian groups should turn into Carnaby Square; all other groups should proceed south of Carnaby to their predetermined location for unloading, if necessary.
◦ If your group is participating and hasn't registered, please do so at www.VisitLondonKy.com/Christmas

The festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with beautiful carols sung by local school and church groups echoing off buildings in front of the Laurel County Courthouse. The Children’s Christmas Book Walk also starts at 5:30 p.m. at 14 downtown locations, and will continue every half hour until the parade at 7 p.m.

After the parade, the annual lighting of the Christmas tree will be held at the London-Laurel County Farmers Market. Kids will be able to take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and other costumed characters. There will be hot chocolate and other items given away.

While there is a good chance of rain on Friday morning, the afternoon and evening forecast predicts dry weather with temperatures in the 50s! A perfect night!

Town Center Park's Christmas Tree lighting filled downtown London with cheer as hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the Christmas Season. Beautiful Christmas decorations and thousands of lights every day starting at 6:00 PM, a show will start every 30 minutes. #visitlondonky #KYchristmastown #ChristmasCapitolofKentucky

Mayor Weddle was invited to Daylight to dark window tinting today, a business that offers a range of window tinting services, including Smart Tint. Smart Tint is a type of technology that allows windows to change from clear to opaque on demand, providing various practical applications.

Although the business is located just outside the city limits, they operate a mobile service covering all of London and its surrounding areas. This flexibility makes their services accessible to a wide range of customers, including those with vehicles, residential properties, and commercial locations.

Smart Tint technology is known for its versatility and can be employed in different settings for privacy, energy efficiency, and aesthetic purposes. Learn more about smart tint at: https://www.smarttint.com/

If you have a business or organization in London and would like to have a spotlight on the City of London Facebook page, contact us at spotlight@londonky.gov

Let the Christmas season begin!

The brightest night of the year is approaching this Friday, Dec. 1, as we proudly present the Randy Smith Christmas on Main Parade.
While there is a good chance of rain on Friday morning, the afternoon and evening forecast predict dry weather with temperatures in the 50s! A perfect night!

Festivities kick off at the Court House Steps, followed by the Children’s Book Walk, the Parade, and concluding with activities at the Farmers Market immediately after the parade.

This weekend, both the London Community Orchestra and the Southeast Kentucky Community Chorus will be hosting holiday concerts.

A delightful new addition to Downtown London this holiday season is the Peppermint Plaza Vendor and Craft Market, situated in the former Magee’s Building on the same block as The Abbey. The Peppermint Plaza will be hosting the market on the first three Fridays and Saturdays in December.

On Sunday, First Baptist of East Bernstadt returns to Town Center Park for their annual Christmas at the Center!

It's a weekend filled with holiday spirit all over London. We look forward to seeing you there!