The Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce is shifting the annual Country Christmas Lighted Parade, which was canceled last year due to extreme cold, to a morning start this year.

It is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6. It will start at 10:30 a.m. The popular parade has started at 6 p.m. since it was launched 27 years ago.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jaime Schmeiser said the parade is being moved to the daytime in hopes that the temperatures will be more favorable and to benefit local merchants as well as the people who take part in the annual event.

“We just thought it might be time to switch it up,” said Schmeiser.

The parade and country Christmas theme this year is Polar Express: Believe. The gift show starts at 10 a.m, followed by the parade. Events and entertainment will continue until 5 p.m.

The event transitioned from a two-day to one-day event in 2012, Schmeiser noted. While people still attended events, downtown business owners did not see a bump in sales, she said.

Last year, a bitterly cold week, with temperatures persisting below zero, caused participants to cancel starting at the beginning of that week. By the end of the week Country Christmas had only one participant, and then the parade was called off.

Schmeiser said it seemed like time for a change.

“Fast forward to this year, and as I had started the plans for the parade, the idea of having it during the day was brought to my attention by community members, gift show participants, merchants and performers, who cited the success of the fair parade being held during the day in July for the community’s active participation, which included merchants having success, as community stayed downtown long after the parade had ended,” she said.

The Chamber board and Ambassadors decided to not only have the parade during the day, but to move Santa’s Workshop and pictures with Santa to the same day.

The Powell Tribune’s weekly poll is on the planned parade change. Check the top of the left sidebar to cast your vote.