Santa Is An Auburn Fan

Story By Tucker Massey Photos By Matt Austin and Contributed To LIVE Lee

The city of Auburn’s Annual Christmas Parade is an event that many look forward to. However, this parade that so many love requires a great deal of work to make it happen. Auburn Downtown Merchants Association Downtown Coordinator Jessica Kohn has had a part in putting this parade on for several years. She became more heavily involved after the event was handed over to the ADMA from the Auburn Chamber of Commerce almost four years ago.

Kohn said she had been a part of this parade, both in a volunteer position and in her current position, for almost eight years total.

“As far as the work that goes into it, we start around October, and our first initial steps are just putting it out there,” Kohn said. “We also put applications out there for the community to see.”

Kohn said that applicants must pay $30 to participate in the parade. This money functions as a donation to the ADMA.

Due to the excitement for this parade, Kohn said it is not unusual to cut off how many applicants the parade can accept.

“A lot of people want to be in the parade,” Kohn said. “And the parade can only be so long for what we can accommodate.”

After applicants have been accepted, Kohn said they soon begin meeting with public safety officials to go over the parade route, which is the same for each year.

The main focus of pre-parade preparation is to spread the word and let people know about it. The community enjoys this event, and the ADMA said it wants to be sure as many people as possible are able to experience it.

On the day of the event, the parade lineup is put in place a couple of hours before the parade actually starts. Kohn said that despite the large number of participants, the parade often runs very smoothly.

“It runs very smoothly just about every year because we have the same people every year that know what to expect,” Kohn said. “The

lineup just kind of happens on its own after we get our sponsors in place and the marching band in place. Everybody else just lines up after them and we go.”

Along with the community, Kohn also said that this event is something that she loves to help put on each year. She said it is a true kickoff to the holiday season.

“It’s definitely one of my favorite events to put on,” Kohn said. “It’s one of those events that I sometimes have to stop and go, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to put on and help organize the Auburn Christmas Parade.’ It’s a favorite event among our community, and I do believe that everybody looks forward to it every year.”

Kohn said her favorite part of the parade is seeing the smiling faces lining the streets. She said she loves to look around as the parade progressed and, especially, to see the children smiling and enjoying the event.

She added that when she walks with the parade, it isn’t just children smiling and enjoying the sight. The adults in the crowd also relax and enjoy themselves while the parade marches forward.

For the community, Kohn said she believed that this parade spreads joy. She noted that people looked forward to being a part of the parade, in particular, the groups that deal with children. She said children love being a part of the parade.

People who participate in the parade enjoy it and invite their family members to watch because it means so much to them to be involved with the event, Kohn said.

Many in the community are compelled to get involved with this parade. Whether it is Auburn University or a local group that wants a float, anyone around is welcome to apply and participate.

Another key group in getting this parade off the ground is Auburn’s public safety officials. Kohn said they are crucial in setting the route and protecting it in case -of an emergency.

Kohn expressed gratitude to all who volunteered to help put on this event. She said that many within the community do it just because they enjoy it so much.

“We appreciate everybody who is a part of the parade,” Kohn said. “Without them, I know the parade wouldn’t be what it is.”

After years of being a part of this parade, Kohn said she has developed a deep appreciation for what all it takes to put it on. She said she felt that it was a daunting task at first, but has since warmed up to the position and enjoys putting it on.

“Christmas parades are just such an old tradition that’s been around for a long time,” Kohn said. “I love that we can continue to put this on year after year.”