TENAFLY, N.J.—The 10th annual Tenafly Holiday Parade on Thursday, Dec. 5—with its theme “Celebrating Our Differences Together”—will feature a variety of religious singers, prayers and offer children a special gift bag of surprise holiday treats.
“I like this parade because everyone in town comes together for it. We celebrate our differences together, which is even more necessary now in today’s world,” said parade organizer Christine Evron, Tenafly Chamber of Commerce president.
Evron said the annual event attracts 300 or more attendees.
The parade starts at 6 p.m. at Oresko Park on Washington Avenue and parade walkers follow Sparky the Fire Dog and Santa Claus—who rides on the fire engine—up Washington Street to Huyler Park.
“Parade participants of all ages can follow the firetruck leading the parade and gather following the parade for free cocoa and cookies at Huyler Park,” noted Evron.
This year’s holiday parade features the Tenafly High School Madrigal Singers, Jewish seasonal singing, a Muslim prayer, and a blessing of the creche, representing the birth scene of Jesus.
Hercules Invictus will serve as event emcee.
At least 15 of more than 70 chamber members have signed on to sponsor the annual parade, said Evron. Although Hanukkah falls in later December this year, Evron hoped the community celebration and Jewish songs featured would still draw a religiously diverse crowd of paradegoers to the Dec. 5 parade.
Evron said the gift bags contain items such as a coloring book from Tenafly Nature Center and candy canes. She said Sparky the Fire Dog will provide an assortment of gifts for kids.
“This is the essence of a small-town, old-fashioned holiday event,” said Evron.
She said if temperatures should be 30-35 degrees or below, the parade organizers may decide to cancel the parade, although that has rarely happened, as the decade-old parade is fast becoming a local holiday tradition.