Christmas Season Starts On “The Ave” In Downtown Vineland

By: Follow South Jersey Staff

Christmas parade in downtown Vineland. Photo credit: The Ave.

VINELAND, N.J. — Main Street Vineland is seeking vendors, participants, volunteers, and sponsors for its annual Main Street Vineland Christmas Parade that will take place on Saturday, November 27 (rain date: Sunday, November 28), at 5:00 p.m., on Landis Avenue.

A longtime Vineland holiday tradition, the parade will have as its major sponsor this year Friends of Michael Testa Jr. for State Senate. Newfield National Bank and Lidl will be supporting sponsors. 

The theme of this year’s parade is “An Olde Fashioned Christmas on The Ave” and will again feature a contest for the best floats. Trophies will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in both the “Large Float” and “Petite Float” categories.

“The Christmas Parade continues to be one of our biggest downtown events of the year and we aim to make each year’s parade the best one yet,” Main Street Vineland Executive Director Russell Swanson said in a press release.. “We are looking forward to making this one, as usual, a great parade—full of holiday cheer to the entire family—and a great time on The Ave.”

The parade will proceed through the downtown toward Myrtle Street and will be preceded by a holiday-related performance by members of the Vineland Regional Dance Company. COVID-related safety measures will be in place.

Volunteers are currently being sought to help coordinate on the night of the parade and additional parade sponsorship opportunities are available.

Applications to be in the parade or to be a vendor can be obtained by going to the Main Street Vineland website www.TheAve.biz where the rules and regulations can also be reviewed and printed out. To be a participant in the parade, applications must be completed online.

Registration for parade participants is free and all registrations must be received by Friday November 19. Registration is required to participate in the parade and no registrations will be allowed the night of the parade.

In keeping with the theme of “An Olde Fashioned Christmas on the Ave,” other activities are planned for the weekend of December 3 through 5 where The Ave will bustle with carolers, photos with Santa, Carriage Rides, among other events:.

Friday, December 3 from 5pm – 9 pm:  Free Trolley Rides, Street Vendors, Roses For The Ladies, Fire Pits, Costumed Characters Ribbon Cutting at 5 pm at  Landis Theater, Photos With Santa at Landis Theater 5pm – 6 pm, Carriage Rides 5pm – 8 pm, Divine Mercy & St. Isadore Church Choir Concert 5 pm, Bay Atlantic Symphony Ensemble 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Free Outdoor Movies at Landis Theater: Elf @ 6 pm It’s A Wonderful Life at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, December 4 from 10 am – 9 pm: Free Trolley Rides, Street Vendors, Christmas Corsages, Fire Pits, Costumed Characters, Parade Winning Floats on Display, WVLT Live Radio Remote 10 am – 1 pm, Trolley Ride With Santa – Noon – 2 pm, Story Time with Kathryn Ross 1pm – 4pm, Photos With Santa at VDID 3pm – 5 pm, Christmas Crafts For Kids 3 pm, Higbee’s Heroes Quartet 3 pm & 7 pm, Adult Painting Party 5 pm, Carriage Rides 12 pm – 3 pm, Louis Vincent Music – 7:30 pm, Free Outdoor Movies at the Landis Theater Polar Express at 6 pm Miracle on 34th Street at 8 pm

Sunday, December 5 from 10 am – 3 pm: Trolley Rides, Street Vendors, Christmas Carolers, Fire Pits, Costumed Characters, Santa Stroll at Noon, Pet Pictures With Santa 1 pm, Milk & Cookies With Santa at VDID 1 pm.

For more information on this and all Main Street Vineland events, call the Main Street Vineland office at 856-794-8653, visit the organization’s website at www.TheAve.biz, or visit it on Facebook.


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