Beloved Aiken Christmas Parade Will Continue In 2024
The beloved Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade in Aiken has been a tradition for the past 14 years. It’s an event that highlights the equestrian community in Aiken. But just recently, there was word that the parade may not be able to continue this year, due to a permit related to the parade route.
The Annual Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade
In a post on the Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade Facebook page last Friday, the committee thanked the community and participants for their support over the years. They acknowledged that as of Friday, they had not been able to secure a permit for the route. In previous years, the route began at Trinity Nursing Home and moved through downtown to end at the Wilcox.
On Sunday, the Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade committee posted another update to clear up some misinformation that had gone around on social media. They pointed out that there are many things that go into the annual event and planning for this year’s parade began prior to the event happening last year. It’s something the committee works on year-round to make the event bigger and more enjoyable for the community.
The Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade is a unique event in many ways, including being completely non-motorized. It’s also an organization that is under the Aiken Equine Rescue and the SPCA Albrecht Center, with the parade being a major fundraiser for both charities.
In March of this year, the committee applied for a permit, but the current route was not approved and the permit was denied, despite no changes to their request in years past. Public Safety did present the committee with various options, which included different dates and times, but still excluded the original route.
Many considerations were taken into account over the past 6 months since the permit was denied. The committee looked at route options, dates, and times. They also wanted to ensure the concerns of the many downtown merchants were considered, along with ensuring safety for everyone involved.
According to the committee’s post, the permit was denied for the following reasons:
- Some shop owners felt it hurts their business to lose parking due to the necessity of roping off parking, which is vital for safety reasons.
- Because of the parade route, it requires more officers for traffic control. Multiple options for this have been discussed and not approved.
- Culminating at the Willcox necessitates a return for 2 blocks on Chesterfield, which is a major state owned road and a major entrance for traffic into town.
As of that last post on Sunday, the committee had not agreed on a solution. But, on Monday, an update made on the Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade Facebook confirmed the beloved Christmas parade would be happening again this year, with the date and route to be announced by the SPCA Albrecht Center and the Aiken Equine Rescue.
Change Of Hands
The post says the official committee has turned the event over to the two charities, who will take over the organization and management of the parade.
As of Tuesday, September 10, the Aiken Equine Rescue shared on Facebook that the parade will be held on Sunday, December 15th at 2 p.m. While the official route wasn’t included in their post, they did mention the Willcox will be included in the route. They also asked the community to stay tuned to their Facebook for registration announcements for dogs, horses, and carriages. The organization is also seeking sponsors to help cover costs associated with the event. If you’re interested in sponsoring, you can email the organization at [email protected].
You can learn more about the Aiken Equine Rescue on their website. And learn more about the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare here.
