Kinston Christmas Parade canceled due to COVID

Photo courtesy of Pride of Kinston’s Facebook page.

The pandemic has canceled many local events this year. At Monday’s Kinston City Council meeting, it was announced that the Kinston Christmas Parade is the latest victim of the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, we have to cancel our Christmas parade this year, like so many other communities that have been robbed of that, because of COVID,” said Pride of Kinston Director Leon Steele.

The Christmas Parade joins the 2020 State Fair and Fourth of July to become another event canceled due to the coronavirus.

“That’s not going to mean we have a total loss of Christmas. We will light up Pearson Park and that will be lit for the entire season as usual,” said Steele. “We’ve got some special activities for the night of the lighting Saturday evening November 28th.”

Councilmember Sammy Aiken asked Steele if Pride of Kinston would need volunteers for the lighting of Pearson Park.

“I certainly will and we will be starting to set that up in October. The weather seems to always get in our way plus scheduling the help from the different departments of the city and the different volunteers that Pride has,” said Steele.

Anyone interested in volunteering with Pride of Kinston for the lighting of Pearson Park or any other upcoming event, they can reach out to Steele’s office by calling (252) 522-4676.

“I’ll help you put candy canes on the tree,” said Aiken.

In 2019 through a grassroots social media promotion, Pride of Kinston raised $35,000 for ‘A Kinston Christmas’. The visitor-based economic development project involved an annual, season-long, Christmas lights display in Pearson Park. With the funds, Pride of Kinston purchased a 24’ commercial Christmas Tree, the centerpiece of Pearson Park.