Lori Medlin, the president and CEO of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be the grand marshal of this year’s Roanoke Rapids Christmas Parade.
Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Daughtry made the announcement this morning on WPTM's Maverick Talk Show.
The parade will be held December 7 at 2 p.m. along Roanoke Avenue.
“We are honoring them and all of their efforts in our community, especially the upcoming celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary,” Daughtry said.
(The deadline for registering an entry in the parade is Friday. To register, visit the department’s RecDesk page)
Medlin said she was honored by the choice. “It’s just a wonderful way to acknowledge all the things that the tourism industry has done for Roanoke Rapids and our community. It’s one of the things I’m really proud of in this position.”
The job of the HCCVB is to enhance the area through tourism. “At the same time, the added benefit is it helps the quality of life in our community.”
That includes enhancing the canal trail, helping fund the upcoming penguin exhibit at Sylvan Heights, wayfinding packages, and the new pickleball courts at Rochelle Park, which stay booked, she said. “It’s just a great marriage of doing great things for our community that also enhances making it a better place for visitors. I’m really proud of everything we do and I think this is a great way for the city to say thank you, and it’s much appreciated.”
Medlin said tourism began planning for the 250th commemorations two years ago. “We started doing a wayfinding package, a banner program, a logo program, and placing ads.”
Tourism will have a commercial running on the Ken Burns American Revolution documentary.
She has received many responses to the 250th commemoration. “That celebration is going to be so much fun for visitors and for local folks to come out, especially for the kids to learn what happened in their own backyard so they can be proud of where they’re from.”
Medlin said the entire organization, including the board, will be on the Grand Marshal float. “We’re going to have pictures of the things we’ve put together to help the community on the sides of the floats. It’s just going to be fun to [see] everybody out and smiling and having fun. It’s celebrating Christmas — which I don’t think is too early to do.”
Medlin expressed thanks to the city and parks department. “They’re great partners and nothing happens without partnerships.”
Meanwhile, Daughtry said the parade will be the centerpiece of a weekend that celebrates the Christmas season in the area.
On December 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Christmas on the Avenue kicks off the holiday season with events at Centennial Park, the Chamber of Commerce, and the 1026 Urban Greenspace on Roanoke Avenue. This event, along with the parade, is being sponsored by Riverside Savings Bank and Roseburg.
On December 6, Christmas on the Canal is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon at the Roanoke Canal Museum.
The parade route will be from Thirteenth to Third streets along the avenue.
Daughtry credited Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Ryan Newsome for organizing this year’s parade. “It is a lot of work and we appreciate him and all our staff for putting that together this year. It is a big task.”
