The grand marshal of this year’s Roanoke Rapids Christmas Parade will be the Stray Cats Hot Rod Association.

City parks and recreation Director Kelly Daughtry made the announcement this morning on WPTM’s morning talk show. “This is a local group that has raised funds and participated in a lot of fundraisers over the last 30 years.”

“We’re very honored to have that position,” said Daniel Clay of the organization.

Stray Cats was formed in 1993 by some car enthusiasts who got together, he said. In 1994 the group participated in its first event which was in Littleton. August 30 of next year will be the association’s 30th year.

This year will also mark the 30th year Stray Cats has participated in the Roanoke Rapids parade, which this year is being sponsored by Roseburg and Riverside Savings Bank in conjunction with the parks department. “We’re trying to help local businesses with cruise-ins and just trying to help the community,” Clay said. “We get our name out there. We use the cars as a tool just to get people out there and get them involved in the hobby.”

The association now has 60 members. “We’re growing. We’re not losing people. The car hobby ain’t the cheapest in the world but you can find a way. It’s a passion. You don’t have to have it perfectly painted. You get in the group. You have a good time.”

Daughtry said Stray Cats will have cars at the front of the parade and at the rear.

Dan Jones of the organization will have the honor of chauffeuring Santa Claus in a 1965 red Thunderbird, Clay said.

Parade details

The parade starts at 2 p.m. on December 8 down Roanoke Avenue.

As of this report there are 70 entries and three bands — Roanoke Rapids High School, Chaloner and KIPP Pride High.

Daughtry encourages people not to park on the avenue. “I know there will be people who park on the avenue but we just want to make sure that there are areas where people can stand and watch the parade.”

Daughtry also said watching the parade at Thirteenth Street and the avenue is not the best spot. “That’s where all the chaos happens. That’s where everything is staged at that spot. You really don’t get to see how it all comes together.”

She suggests Twelfth Street to Third Street as the best places to view the parade. 

Spectators are not allowed to bring their pets to the event. “That is a city ordinance and you are not allowed to do that, but we are looking forward to it (the parade) and are excited.”

The deadline to register is Friday and information can be found at this link or this link to download a registration form.

Other events 

On the Friday before the parade, Roseburg will sponsor Christmas on the Avenue, which will stretch from Centennial Park to 1026 Roanoke Avenue in an event that begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. The Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce will have beer and wine for sale during the event at their location on the avenue.

“We’ll have hayrides, face-painting, craft vendors and food trucks,” Daughtry  said. “There will be ornament making and kid crafts with the arts council. Everything is free. If you want something from one of the food trucks, of course, you’ll have to pay for that or if you want beer or wine.”

Said Daughtry: “We just want to kick off the Christmas season with that day.”

Then on December 7 from 10 a.m. to noon Friends of the Canal will hold Christmas at the Canal Museum.

The event will be held at the Roanoke Canal Museum and will feature light refreshments, crafts, photo opportunities with the Grinch and holiday-themed balloons by Wacky Wally.

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Thanks

Daughtry said the events planned for parade weekend couldn’t be done without the help of sponsors.

“I want to always make sure I thank our staff. Because I represent the staff I don’t do all the work,” she said. “Our staff works hard on all of these things and public works works very hard getting the snowflakes (decorations) up. It takes the whole city to make this happen. We couldn’t do any of this without our sponsors Roseburg, the Friends of the Canal and Riverside.”

Then there are those whose work might go unnoticed, she said. “Mason Price allows us to use a flatbed for the judges. Tracy Story is providing a flatbed for pulling the parade sponsor's float and Wesley’s Housing provides the steps for the judges on the flatbed.”

Said Daughtry: “People are so kind to us in the community for lending us things to do the job to make the parade a success. We couldn't have the parade without people in the community participating in this with their floats.”