Christmas in Humble begins with lights, annual parade

The city of Humble's 19th annual Christmas Parade of Lights is on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street. This year's theme is the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Humble Observer

By ROYCELYN BASTIAN
Updated: 12.01.09
Standing on both sides of Main Street, spectators will greet participants in the 19th annual city of Humble Christmas Parade of Lights on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. “This event is just a good way for the community to come out and it is Humble’s way to kick off the holiday season,” Sgt. Perry Burkeen, chairman of the city’s Christmas Parade Committee, said.

The parade will have more than 20 participants, either on a float or walking, that will begin marching east of the rail road tracks on Main Street towards Avenue H where it will turn left towards Higgins. Main Street near U.S. Highway 59 will be closed on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. and will re-open at 7:30 p.m.

Each entrant will be judged by local residents and winners will be announced within 72 hours of the parade. Applications are accepted until Nov. 30. The entry fee is $35 and a new toy donation per entrant.

“The new toy will be collected the night of the parade and given to the Humble Police Department to deliver to children who are less fortunate,” Chris Green, committee member, said.

After the parade, the committee will hold its annual tree lighting ceremony at Uptown Park. Once the tree is lit, children will be able to sit on Santa Claus’ lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.

In addition to the event, community residents will be able to purchase city of Humble Christmas ornaments from 2005 to 2009 for $10 each. The 2009 ornament is of the old Humble Depot. Ornaments prior to 2005 are $5 each.

In keeping with this year’s theme, “Twelve Days of Christmas,” the committee has listed holiday activities that are taking place around the community. Along with the parade and the decoration contest, other activities include the Kingwood and Kingwood Park high schools’ FFAs’ Santa’s Farm Dec. 4, Christmas in the Park in Kingwood’s Town Center Dec. 5, Old Fashioned Christmas at Jesse Jones Park Dec. 5, Humble High School holiday choir concert Dec. 10, Jesse Jones Park’s Christmas Cheer Dec. 12, First United Methodist Church’s choir program Dec. 13 and 14, and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Kingwood’s Live Nativity Dec. 17-19. The committee is looking for three more events it can highlight.

Christmas Lights

The city of Humble’s Christmas Parade Committee will officially start the Christmas season this year with its first ever Humble Christmas Lights and Decoration Contest Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. People can still sign up for the decorating contest and the entry fee to participate is free.

Residential and commercial properties on Main Street, Higgins Street and Granberry Street will be judged based on the festive lights and other holiday-related displays.

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