The 70th Annual Rose Parade returns to downtown Thomasville on Friday, April 27th at 7:00 pm. A perineal favorite, the Rose Parade brings the entire local community and visitors alike together to celebrate all things Thomasville.
This year’s parade theme is Helping Hands: A Celebration of Community Volunteers! In honor of that theme, Hands on Thomas County’s Hands on Heroes award winners will serve as the parade grand marshals. “The Hands on Heroes award winners exemplify what it means to be a helping hand within our community,” says Angela Kiminas, Hands on Thomas County’s executive director. “Award winners are chosen not just based on hours served, but also impact, passion, commitment and inspiration. HOTC is very proud to recognize these special volunteers who shine brightly within our community and for the opportunity for these deserving people to serve as Rose Parade grand marshals.” The month of April is National Volunteer Month.
“In addition to the HOTC grand marshals, I’d also like to recognize the many other volunteers who make the Rose Show and Festival possible,” says Sarah Baggett, marketing director. “Members of Thomasville CrossFit spent several hours helping to prepare the float bases for many of the Rose Parade entries you’ll see on Friday night. Community volunteers assist with many aspects of the festival, including the post-parade meal for band and ROTC units, Art in the Park, both parades, and more. It takes a village to make an event of this size happen. CNS is grateful for the opportunity to recognize all these helping hands.”
The Rose Parade will also feature classic favorites like stilt walkers, marching bands, and floats of all shapes and sizes. “We are particularly excited about our floats this year,” says Sheryl Sealy, City of Thomasville marketing, communications, and events director. “We have recruited some new local talent to make these our best entries ever. I can tell you one float will feature some of the largest roses you’ve ever seen, and one float is made almost entirely out of balloons…you’ll have to see it to believe it!”
The Rose Parade is sponsored by CNS and is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Thomasville Visitors Center at 229-228-7977 or visit www.thomasvillega.com.