NEWPORT-The Cocke County Partnership/Chamber of Commerce announced that applications are now available at the Chamber office for the annual Christmas Parade.

The parade will take place on Saturday, Nov. 29. This year's theme for the parade is I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas! Keep Cocke County Beautiful will be the Grand Marshalls this year. Decorations should be made from items that can be recycled...tires, newspaper, cardboard, plastic bottles, milk jugs or aluminum cans...you get the idea, use them in a creative way.

After the parade you should be able to disassemble the float and recycle the materials used. Paint is acceptable to accent the items. Remember we are looking at ways to show Christmas Spirit and be kind to the Environment at the same time. Questions regarding recycling please call Keep Cocke County Beautiful @ (423) 623-1050.

Parade staging will begin at 11 a.m. at the Cocke County High School Parking lots. The parade will promptly start at 2 p.m. turning onto West Broadway and continue East through downtown Newport and finishing at Lincoln Ave. Baptist Church.

This highly anticipated tradition will kick off the Christmas holiday season in Cocke County. During the parade you will see a showcase of bands, floats, marching units, antique cars and tractors, children's groups, commercial units and clubs and organizations within the County. Expect the Shrine Club to again entertain the crowds with their vehicles.

Registration is a minimal fee and all proceeds will go to the Education Foundation for Cocke County 7th grade student's trip to Walters State to experience college for the first time. Applications are available at the Chamber office in the Newport Community Center. As in the past, First Baptist Church in downtown Newport will broadcast the parade, live, on cable. For those not able to attend they will rebroadcast the parade later in the day for participants' viewing. In addition, the church will sell videotape/DVD copies of the parade. To purchase copies of the parade please call First Baptist Church at (423) 623 -3034.

The deadline for registration is Nov. 17. All registrations after this date will be included at the end of the parade but will not be printed in the publicized line up.

"This year's parade promises to be the biggest and brightest yet," said the Partnership's Kandee Veridal", and we hope everyone can join us. Whether you plan to be in the parade or view the wonderful floats with your favorite scenes of Christmas pass by, we are looking forward to seeing you!

Cline Floats are available for rental for a fee.

For more information please contact the Chamber office at 623-7201.