1. For Immediate Release: Parkwood Association Presents the Only Christmas Parade in the City of
Durham!
Durham, NC. September 26, 2014:
The 2014 Annual Christmas/Holiday Parade for the Parkwood Community in Durham is scheduled for
Saturday, December 6th (rain date Dec. 13) from 2-5pm. It is sponsored by the Parkwood Association
and the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department; with the help and participation of many community
volunteers.
Dwindling attendance numbers prompted the City of Durham to revamp its Holiday tradition in 2010;
changing it from a holiday parade to a Family Fun Festival. However, the Parkwood Parade tradition
continues to grow larger and get better every year. The parade features bands, marching groups, fire
trucks, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and many other groups from Durham and surrounding communities.
Santa is once again being played by Louis Overman – a former Parkwood resident who has been
Parkwood’s Santa for 35 years. Santa will be accompanied by Mrs. Claus, played by Mary Ann Holloway.
Grand Marshal for this year’s parade will be none other than Mr. Parkwood himself, Sol Ellis! Sol Ellis is a
founding member of the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department, is an ‘Original Parkwoodian,’ and if
you’re also an ‘Original’ homeowner here, he probably sold you your house.
The central location to plug into your GPS for the event is 1417 Seaton Road, Durham, NC 27713.
Reserve your space as part of Durham’s biggest holiday parade. There is no charge to any organization
to participate in the Parkwood parade. Kick off the holidays with the sights and sounds of the season!
A new addition to Parade festivities will be a “Breakfast with Santa” fundraiser for Toys for Tots,
Saturday, December 6th
from 9-11am at Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department, 1409 Seaton Road,
Durham NC 27713. Admission is $5.00 per person with a new, wrapped toy; $7.00 without toy.
Parade check-in starts at 12:30 PM at 5100 Revere Road (the shopping center parking lot). Registration
cutoff is 1:45 to allow time for transport to the south end of Parkwood Lake, where the parade will
begin (ending at the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department). If you would like to participate in this year’s
celebration, please contact Betty Ertell (919) 544-1324 or the Parkwood Association office at 919-544-
2161.
The Parkwood Association is the first planned community in North Carolina. Founded in 1960, the 560-acre community became home to many
who were transferred to Durham to work at the then-recently-founded Research triangle Park. Parkwood was also one of the first
developments to offer GI loans, which attracted many veterans of the Korean War. Parkwood is now home to over 3000 residents, boasts a
professionally-maintained ball field that hosts a number of little league teams as well as NCCU’s women’s softball, and features over 100 acres
of community parkland – including the 35-acre Parkwood Lake. Parkwood Association is a 501 C-4 non-profit organization.
Contact: Pati Darak Barrow, Parkwood Association, 1417 Seaton Road, Durham NC 27713
919-544-2161. pa.office@parkwoodnc.org. www.parkwoodnc.org