Surprises in store for COTR Day Parade
Christmas on the River explodes with festivities Saturday, Dec. 4. The Jingle Bell 5K Run starts the morning off at 8:30 a.m., while shoppers take in the arts, crafts and food of Fair in the Square.
One of the most anticipated events of the annal Demopolis Christmas party begins at 11:30 a.m. with the COTR Day Parade. Stunning floats will roll through downtown streets escorted by marching bands, children in papier-mâché heads, decorated golf carts and a few surprises.
Grand Marshal for the Day Parade is Spencer Ketcham Turnbull. A Demopolis native, Turnbull, in his 50th big-league start, pitched a no-hitter for the Detroit Tigers’ in a 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on May 18, 2021, becoming the first University of Alabama pitcher to throw a no-hitter in major league baseball.
Turnbull spent his first 11 years in Demopolis and still has many family ties still in the area. His love of baseball was fostered here, where he first became a Tiger and wore an Old-English D as a Demopolis All-Star.
Although COTR marks its 50th anniversary in 2021, it wasn’t until its second year that the first Day Parade was held. It quickly grew to one of the largest parades in the state.
Teachers Ellen Dickerson and Mary Price were the original creators of the papier-mâché heads with their students at U.S. Jones Elementary School. Dickerson started the art project in 1975 or 1976 in her class, said Kirk Brooker, co-chair of COTR, and asked Price to help out. They continued the much-loved tradition for more than 22 years.
“We thank the original creators for building such a strong foundation, adding an element that has become synonymous with COTR and providing our children with a creative outlet in the arts that continues to foster a sense of community and pride,” said Brooker.
This year U.S. Jones teacher Jennifer Helms took on the project, making new heads and collecting old ones that she and her student-volunteers have refurbished. There will be more than 30 heads in the Day Parade.
Betsy Stephens, co-chair of the Day Parade, heads the intensive work that goes into making the floats sponsored by the COTR committee. This year some 16 floats will roll through Demopolis. They include favorites from past parades, some reconditioned ones and a surprise that she believes will please the crowds lining the route. Stephens wouldn’t reveal the theme of the surprise float, only to say it is “very much Demopolis.”
More than 20 women who wore the crown of Miss Christmas on the River are returning for COTR’s golden anniversary and will ride the float to wish COTR a Happy 50th.
She said scores of volunteers worked to create and update the floats to ready them for the parade. Many of them were high school student groups, youth clubs, church and civic groups and individual volunteers who came out to help.
“I can’t imagine how many man hours went into the work,” she said.
Four marching bands will add music and excitement to the Day Parade, said Kathleen Randall, co-chair. Heading the parade will be the Demopolis High School River City Blue. Others will be the University of West Alabama Band, Sweet Water High School Band and the 2019 crowd favorite, Jefferson Davis High School Band from Birmingham.
This year golf cart owners were invited to decorate their vehicles and join in the parade. Randall said about seven or eight have signed up. She also was pleased with the number of private entries this year.