Photo submitted to the Times Observer Gary Lester, grand marshal of the 2023 Christmas Parade, passed the sash to Piper VanOrd, who will be grand marshal for 2024.

There is a new marshal in town.

The 2024 Christmas Parade grand marshal, Piper VanOrd, has been named in the new tradition of passing the sash.

In a tradition that began three years ago when Annamarie Miller was the grand marshal in 2022. After the parade, Miller had the idea of passing the sash to another community member to be the grand marshal for next year’s parade.

Miller passed the sash to Gary Lester, who served as grand marshal in 2023. Lester then passed the sash to VanOrd, who will be the grand marshal in 2024.

“The people chosen as grand marshal are community members who are engaged in and supportive of the community, they are always giving back,” said Savannah Casey, administrative assistant with the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry.

The parade route will remain unchanged: it assembles at the base of Market Street in the Tops parking lot, proceeds up Market Street, and turns through the roundabout onto Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade will pause at the Christmas tree on Pennsylvania Avenue right before the Hickory Street intersection, where grand marshal VanOrd and Santa will ceremoniously light the tree.

While the parade is the main event, there will be many other activities throughout downtown to help get the community into the holiday spirit.

“Almost all of the downtown businesses are doing something special for the evening,” said Casey.

Whoville will return to Liberty Street by McKissock where they have a box for letters to the Grinch.

Letters to Santa can be put in the special mailbox that will be in the NPCR lobby at 300 2nd Ave. There will be supplies to write the letter on hand.

The mailbox to Santa will be located at the WCCBI building on Pennsylvania Avenue and will be out the day after Thanksgiving. After the Dec. 6 parade, Santa’s mailbox will return to the WCCBI.

“Santa is free! Please don’t put postage on the letters for Santa,” said Casey. She said the mailbox would stay until about a week prior to Christmas so that Santa and his elves can reply to the children that send them.

Organizations, businesses or groups that want to enter the parade can contact Savannah Casey at szimmerman@wccbi.org or call 814-723-3050. The parade is free to enter and welcomes walking groups, dancers, musical acts, vehicles, floats, and more. It starts promptly at 6 p.m. Dec. 6.