Special
Guests:
Former
Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale, who in 1976 became the oldest
rookie in the history of the NFL and later inspired the 2006
Disney movie “Invincible,” will be honored as the Grand Marshall
of the 44th Annual Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade. The
theme of this year’s Parade will be “A Sports Christmas” in
honor of Papale and former Howard High School Basketball Star
A.J. English, who will also appear.
Past
Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parades have featured an
outstanding selection of local and national celebrities: A.J.
Melendez of "American Idol Juniors"; Sean Patrick Thomas Co-Star
of CBS Drama Series "The District" and movies, "The Last Dance"
and "Cruel Intentions"; Heavyweight Boxing Champion Michael
Spinks; Middleweight Boxing Champion Bernard Hopkins; Olympic
Gold Medalist Dionna Harris; Television Stars "ER" Evette
Freeman; "Welcome Back Kotter" star Ron Pallilo; Singers -
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.; plus many other stars from
Sports, Movies, Television, Theater, Publishing, Etc.
2007
Parade
Route:
The Parade
will travel along Market Street this year now that improvements
to the Downtown District’s main thoroughfare have been
completed. The Parade will start at
10:00 am at 5th and Market Streets and proceed north on
Market
Street to 12th , where it will turn southeast for one block to
King Street. The Parade will then proceed from 12th Street
south on King Street, past the Grandstand at Rodney Square
before ending at 5th and King Streets.
The City of
Wilmington has announced that there will be free or
discounted parking in the City for the Parade:
• The
Wilmington Parking Authority is offering free parking at two
surface lots—8th & Orange Streets, and 6th and Orange Streets.
Vehicles must enter after 9 AM and exit before 3 PM.
• At the
Customs House Garage under the Doubletree Hotel on King
Street, parking is being offered at a flat $3.00 rate if you enter
after 9
AM and exit before 3 PM.
• The Ships
Tavern Garage (2nd and King Sts.) and the Midtown Garage
(9th and Shipley Sts.) are both offering a flat parking rate of
$3.00 to
vehicles entering after 9 AM and exiting before 3 PM.
Friday,
November 23 also marks the beginning of the City’s FREE Downtown
Holiday Parking Program to encourage shoppers to support
Downtown businesses. On-street metered parking is free in
two-hour intervals every day after 12 Noon in the Downtown
Business District, beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving
through New Year’s Day.
The
Wilmington Jaycees is a premier young people's organization,
affiliated with the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce,
made up of men and women between the ages of 21 and 40. The
Jaycees help people through personal growth, leadership
development, and community involvement.
If you are a community group who has submitted an
application to participate in the Parade,
you will be notified by Wednesday, November 14th if your group has been selected
to participate.
Questions on the parade should be directed
to Mark Oller, Parade Chairman at
markoller@wilmingtontrust.com.
