HORSE PARADE HAS HIGH NUMBER OF ENTRIES

2010 Hometown Holiday Horse Parade
participant Larry & Carol Oda.

Bells, holiday décor, lights, music, and lots of horses are what to expect at this year’s Hometown Holiday Horse Parade in Downtown Greenville on Saturday, November 19. Sponsored by Wayne Healthcare and Greenville Federal, the parade is an annual tradition that kicks off the holiday season for Greenville. “We are honored to have Wayne Healthcare and Greenville Federal continue their major sponsorship of the parade for eight years now, showing true community spirit,” stated Amber Schmerge, director of Main Street Greenville.

The Hometown Holiday Horse Parade has 66 entries for this year’s lighted festive event. Many of these participants reside in Darke County but several come as far away as Xenia, OH and Plainfield, IN. Entries include riders, mules, donkeys, miniature, mid size up to draft horses. The parade begins 7:00 pm at the former LoBills parking lot to Martin Street up to S. Broadway, around the circle and back down S. Broadway.

Click here for a map of the parade route, along with parking, restroom, and business information.

Each year parade organizer, Main Street Greenville, adds pre-parade holiday entertainment to the many activities to take in downtown. With Entertainment Sponsor CenturyLink, parade volunteer Lynne Timmerman has arranged amazing performances by some of Darke County's own. They include the Mississinawa Valley Schools Taiko Drumming Group, singer Joelle York and the Ohio Purple Peddlers.

The Mississinawa Valley Schools Taiko Drumming Group will start performing at Annie Oakley Park at the intersections of Martin, Washington and S. Broadway at 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Joelle York will be on stage at 4th & Broadway from 6:00-6:50 pm. And the Ohio Purple Peddlers will begin their performance at 3rd Street up to the circle from 6:00-7:00 pm.

A wonderful time to come to downtown to stroll the sidewalks and visit many of the retail stores; downtown is truly a magical place this time of year. Thank you to all parade sponsors for making it so: Greenville Federal, Wayne Healthcare, CenturyLink, Readmore’s Hallmark, Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln, Super Wash, Rumpke, AAA Miami Valley, American Decorative Concrete, Buchy Foods, Farm Power of the Past, Frosty Outpost Christmas Tree Farm, Greenville ACE Hardware, Greenville National Bank, Hartzell Veterinary Service, House's Custom Butchering, Johnston Chiropractic, Jon Jordan Agency, Keller Grain Feeds & Needs, Leis Realty, Medicine & More, Oliver Floyd Funeral Home, Preservation Society of Union City, Spencer Landscaping, The Andersons, Wayne Builders, and Zechar Bailey Funeral Home.

Main Street Greenville is a non-profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in historic Downtown Greenville. Visit www.DowntownGreenville.org for more information about Main Street Greenville and the Hometown Holiday Horse Parade.