SECOND GLANCE

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT

THOUGH GREER HAS GROWN SINCE THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY, ITS CHRISTMAS PARADE RETAINS A NOSTALGIC AURA

Photograph courtesy of the Greer Heritage Museum Much has changed in downtown Greer since the city’s annual Christmas Parade rolled down Trade Street in 1938, but this venerable holiday tradition still draws crowds today.

When the Greer Christmas Parade kicks off on December 5 at 2:30 p.m., it will wind its way about a mile from Poinsett Street to North Main. With the theme of Santa’s Workshop, the event is sure to be a crowdpleaser for attendees of all ages. As this sepia-toned photo from 1938 shows, the parade has brought the community out in droves for decades, with kids of all ages lining up to catch a glimpse of festively decorated vehicles and regal horses. That year, the parade swept along the 100 block of Trade Street, while bundled crowds stood in front of Graham Cash Co., down the street from Wayside Inn.

Trade Street and downtown Greer have undergone a dramatic transformation over the past few years, with the CenterG Project bringing to life a variety of initiatives, including repaving, a pedestrian plaza, curb removal, and new and updated businesses including Barista Alley, Bleu Porch, Urban Petals, and the Historic Greer Depot. Greer leaders have focused on building on the area’s historic character so that the community will continue to gather and celebrate in the central business district for generations to come.—Leigh Savage