Christmas parade and Holly Jolly set for December return
Traditional holiday events coming back to downtown Black Mountain
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
November 16, 2021
The Black Mountain Christmas Parade will make its way down State Street, Saturday, Dec. 4, following the Dec. 3 return of the traditional Holly Jolly. Photo by Fred McCormick
A pair of local holiday traditions will return to the streets of downtown the first weekend of December, with the 2021 return of Holly Jolly and the annual Christmas parade, organized by the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce.
The festive events, which were canceled or modified significantly in 2020, due to COVID-19, will be back to their customary formats.
The Owen High School Warhorse Regiment Marching Band, known to many as “The Pride of the Valley,” will kick off the holiday merriment for Holly Jolly, which begins at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 3. Additional performances will include dance routines by multiple age groups representing the Black Mountain Center for the Arts Children’s Dance Classes, taught by Amy Maze. The BMCA troupes will be joined by the Owen High School Dance Team.
The majority of merchants in the downtown business district will remain open until around 8 p.m., according to chamber of commerce director Sharon Tabor.
“There will be street musicians, carolers and Santa will be back at the Old Depot,” she said. “We’re still encouraging people to exercise appropriate COVID-19 precautions, and to respect the businesses and guidelines in place at the time, but it’s going to be a traditional Holly Jolly.”
The event was modified to enable social distancing in 2020, as many businesses observed extended hours on Friday evenings through the month of December while the festivities were canceled. However, the appeal of Holly Jolly is the nostalgic small town feel of a chilly evening strolling from shop to shop.
“Nighttime shopping used to be a thing before malls,” Tabor said. “I think one of the things that makes Holly Jolly so great is that it’s like a return to old times, and it’s something that makes the season feel special.”
Shoppers strolling around downtown can view submissions in the 11th annual Deck the Trees fundraiser, which benefits the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund, and pick up hot chocolate from Black Mountain Boy Scout Troop 42, which will set up a tent on Sutton Avenue.
The holiday cheer will continue downtown, beginning at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4, as the Black Mountain Christmas Parade makes its way west along State Street, from Flat Creek Road to Cragmont Road, marking its return from a virtual format in 2020.
The parade’s grand marshal, retired Black Mountain Fire Chief Gary Bartlett, will recognize the 100th anniversary of the old Black Mountain Firehouse, which is now home to the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center.
“Chief Bartlett was the longest-serving chief in the history of the fire department, the last chief to serve in the historic firehouse and the first to serve in the current building,” Tabor said. “We thought having him as the grand marshal would be a great way to honor the 100th anniversary of the old fire station.”
The theme of the parade - “A Black Mountain Christmas” - mirrors that of Deck the Trees, which will open in the Monte Vista Hotel and participating Swannanoa Valley businesses on Dec. 1.
“With Deck the Trees spreading out into downtown, we wanted to have a cohesive look with Holly Jolly, the Christmas Parade and Deck the Trees,” Tabor said. “We’ve agreed to adopt the same theme every year, so we can have a collaborative effort when it comes to the holiday season.”
The chamber is accepting applications for the Christmas parade through Monday, Nov. 22, and each entry is $25. Applicants can stop by the Visitor Center for a hard copy of the application, or email director@blackmountainchamber.com.
Floats will be judged at 3 p.m., near the starting point on the day of the parade.
“Of course, like every year, the final float will be Santa,” Tabor said. “That’s one of many things people look forward to about this parade, and we’re happy that it’s coming back.”
Following the parade, from 6 - 9 p.m. at Lake Tomahawk, the Black Mountain Recreation Department will host the Circle of Lights. The free event features luminaries and refreshments from Four Sisters Bakery.