
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2006
Ukrop’s Christmas Parade accepting float sponsors
2006 theme “Discovering the Holidays Through A Child’s Eyes” offers
opportunity for local businesses
Richmond, VA – The Ukrop’s Christmas
Parade announced today that applications for float sponsorships
for the 2006 event will be accepted this year beginning Wednesday,
May 24. Float or unit sponsorships range from $5,000
to $10,000. Corporations or organizations wishing to
purchase a float can participate on the float themselves,
or sponsor a float for a local non-profit agency.
“The parade offers a great opportunity to market your brand or organization,” said parade chairman John Melleky. “We are looking for partners to help them expand their brand or message through a variety of cross-promotional opportunities for our sponsorship partners.”
The 2006 parade, to be held Saturday, Dec. 2 will be the 23rd annual event for Richmond and will feature the theme “Discovering the Holidays Through A Child’s Eyes.”
The parade begins at 10:15 a.m. and will be broadcast live in the Richmond, and syndicated in the Roanoke and Hampton markets. The parade will then be re-broadcast on Christmas Day. The Richmond television audience averages 100,000 households for the broadcasts.
Each year more than 100 units participate in the two and a half mile long event, quickly becoming one of the premiere parades along the East Coast with more than 250,000 spectators. Units range from high school and college bands, clowns, majorette and dance groups, to specialty acts, and floats that focus on each year’s theme.
“The Ukrop’s Christmas Parade reaches a wide audience from across the state,” said Melleky. “In addition to the families and spectators young and old who come out each year to watch the parade on Broad Street, a wide range of Virginians watch the parade as it airs on TV each year in Roanoke and Fredericksburg.”
Ukrop’s Super Markets has signed on as one of the title sponsors and the Dominion Auto Group is one of the major sponsors for the 2006 event. Information about the parade can be accessed online at www.richmondchristmasparade.org, by phone at (804) 559-6113 or by e-mailing: info@richmondchristmasparade.org.
“We are really excited as we plan this year’s parade and work on creating an even bigger Richmond tradition,” said Melleky.
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For Immediate Release
May 20, 2006
Sponsors Signed for 2006
Richmond, VA – Ukrop's Super Markets has signed on
as a Title Sponsor for the 2006 Christmas Parade. Dominion
Auto Group has also agreed to serve as one of the Major Sponsors
and provide all the pull vehicles for the parade.
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For Immediate Release
March, 2006
Committee Announces 5 Year Plan
Richmond, VA – Richmond Parade, Inc., the planning
organization for the Christmas Parade, has completed a five
year strategic plan. This plan includes the creation
of the Capital City Holiday Festival, which will encompass
a variety of Holiday events, using the Christmas Parade as
a cornerstone for the weekend. As sponsors are obtained,
the Holiday Festival will include current and new events,
such as an Inflation Celebration and a Parade Preview Party.
The goal is to promote the Greater Richmond area in terms
of tourism and economic development.
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For Immediate
Release
November 8, 2006
Kim Zimmer of CBS’ “Guiding
Light” to be
Ukrop’s Christmas Parade Grand Marshal
The 23rd Annual Ukrop’s
Christmas Parade takes to the streets of Richmond on Saturday,
December 2nd with three-time Emmy award-winning actress Kim
Zimmer of CBS’ “Guiding Light”
serving as grand marshall. Ms. Zimmer began her successful
television career in 1978 and created the character of Reva
Shayne for “Guiding Light” in 1983. Since
that time, her portrayal has been a favorite of fans and peers
earning her critical acclaim as well as Emmy awards for Outstanding
Lead Actress in 1985, 1987 and 1990 and the 2000 Soap Opera
Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. A native of Grand
Rapids, Michigan, Ms. Zimmer studied at Hope College and the
American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
In addition to her
success on “Guiding Light”, Ms. Zimmer’s
extensive resume includes appearances on “Models,
Inc.”, “Seinfeld” and “Designing
Women”; as well as movie roles in “Body
Heat”, movie-of-the-week “Disappearance
of Vonnie”, and in theater in “The Sound
Of Music”, “Cabaret” and “Oklahoma!”.
Ms. Zimmer will help to
kick off the Ukrop’s Christmas Parade that begins at
10:15 am on Broad Street, in front of the Science Museum of
Virginia (2500 W. Broad St.), and continues down Broad to
Seventh Street. Parade highlights will include colorful floats,
marching bands and 11 giant-sized parade balloons with four
never-before-seen balloons: Raggedy Ann and Andy, Po the Teletubby
and Ballerina Hello Kitty. The excitement will build as more
than 80 parade units dazzle the crowd in anticipation of the
grande finale featuring Santa Claus.
This year, grandstand seating is offered to
give parade goers a bird’s eye view of the festivities.
Limited seating is available, in front of the DMV, for $15
per person or $55 for four. To order tickets, please visit
www.richmond.com/ticketing
or www.richmondchristmasparade.org.
Generous sponsorship is provided in part by
Ukrop’s Super Markets. Additional support is provided
by Dominion Auto Group, Mix 103, CBS 6 and the City of Richmond.
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For Immediate Release
November 6, 2006
Ukrop’s Christmas Parade
Poster Contest
Organizers of the
Ukrop’s Christmas Parade are looking for artists, ages
five to 12, to try their hands at creating the poster for
the 2007 event. Interested participants are encouraged to
attend this year’s parade on Saturday, December 2nd
beginning at 10:15 am on Broad Street beginning at the Science
Museum of Virginia, and to then draw their favorite scene.
Artwork and entry forms may be dropped off at: Dominion
Southpark, 325 Charles H. Dimmock Parkway, Colonial Heights;
or Dominion Short Pump, 12050 W. Broad Street; or may be mailed
to: Ukrop’s Christmas Parade, P.O. Box 70610, Richmond,
VA 23255. Entries must be postmarked by Saturday, December
10th to be considered by the judges.
Winners
will be chosen in age categories 5 to 7 and 8 to 12 as well
as one grand prize winner. The announcement of winners will
be made at Dominion Short Pump approximately two weeks after
the parade.
The
winning drawing will be featured in next year’s parade
program that goes out to more than 250,000 attendees. Also,
the winning artist will receive a VIP grandstand family pack
that allows the winner and his/her family to view the parade
in style from special grandstand seats.
Tickets for the
new grandstand seating areas are available now and may be
purchased online at: www.richmondchristmasparade.org.
Tickets are $15 each or four for $55. Grandstand seating will
be located on Broad Street between DMV Drive and Lombardy
Street. Limited seats are available.
Discover the Holidays
through a Child’s Eyes
2006 Ukrop’s
Christmas Parade
Saturday,
December 2
10: 15
am
The parade
begins at the 2500 block of Broad Street, at the Science Museum
of Virginia, and concludes at 7th Street.
Free,
but grandstand seating is available for $15 per seat or four
for $55
www.richmondchristmasparade.org
Generous sponsorship is provided in part by
Ukrop’s Super Markets, Dominion Auto Group, Mix 103,
CBS-6 and the City of Richmond.
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For Immediate Release
November 29, 2005
Christmas Parade drawing contest announced
- Winners drawing will be featured in next year’s Parade program -
Richmond, VA – The Ukrop’s/Retail Merchants Association Christmas Parade has announced a contest for Parade goers to draw their depiction of the perfect Parade poster to be used in marketing materials for the 2006 season.
This year’s parade, featuring many fantastic floats, bands, balloons and more will provide the perfect backdrop to inspire creativity for the poster contest. New balloons, such as Little LuLu appearing in her very first holiday parade, are sure to stir creative juices.
The winning drawing will be used in the 2006 Official Parade Program and in various marketing and promotional materials. Additionally, the first place winner will win a VIP Grandstand Family Four Pack for the 2006 Parade.
Children age 5 – 12 are invited to draw their rendition of the perfect Parade poster featuring scenes from this year’s event. The Parade planning committee will determine the first place winner, along with second and third place. The second place winner will receive a Little LuLu DVD; third place will receive Casper on DVD.
To participate, look for the contest entry form in Thursday’s special Parade advertorial in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, or download it here. Follow the instructions on the form and mail it with your color drawing by Saturday, Dec. 31. Winners will be notified by the end of January.
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For Immediate Release
July 24, 2005
A Cinematic Christmas comes to Richmond
in 2005 Christmas parade
Ukrop’s Retail Merchants Association Christmas Parade
now accepting applications
Richmond, VA – Applications
are now being accepted for the 22nd Annual 2005 Ukrop’s
Retail
Merchants Association Christmas Parade. This year’s
parade features the theme “A Cinematic
Christmas.”
The parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, beginning
at 10:15 a.m. and will be broadcast
live in the Richmond, Roanoke and Hampton markets. The parade
will then be re-broadcast on
Christmas Day.
Applications can be accessed
online at www.richmondchristmasparade.org,
and are due by
Friday, Oct. 7, 2005. Applications are being accepted from
corporations, associations and non-
profit organizations. Applications are also being accepted
for non-float, specialty units.
“We are thrilled to bring yet another great family event
to the Richmond area this coming
holiday season,” said Christmas Parade chairman John
Melleky. “The Cinematic Christmas
theme is nostalgic for all of us, as we all remember our favorite
Christmas movie.”
The Ukrop’s Retail Merchants Association Christmas Parade
is fast becoming one of the
premiere parades along the East Coast is expected to continue
to grow each year. In 2004, more
than 250,000 spectators watched the parade along Richmond’s
Broad Street and thousands more
tuned in to watch on television. It is the largest single-day
event of the year in Virginia, with
huge high-flying balloons, elaborate floats, star spangled
marching bands, and of course – Santa
Claus!
For more information on the parade visit www.richmondchristmasparade.org
or call (804) 559-
6113.
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