Grand marshal nominations open for 2019 Holiday Parade
By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer
STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point Alliance (SPA) has opened grand marshal nominations for the 2019 Holiday Parade.
The grand marshal will lead the parade and tree lighting ceremony along with Mayor Mike Wiza. The SPA spearheads both the Holiday Parade and the Fourth of July parade in the city. The group sees the grand marshal role as a means to honor area residents who give back.
“We thought it was a good idea to have community involvement and let local folks have a chance to be a leader of the parade,” said SPA President Troy Hojnacki. “It gives us a chance to give them a position of honor.”
Hojnacki noted that the SPA first implemented a grand marshal role during the 2019 Fourth of July Parade. The group selected Edwin “Bud” Atkins, a war veteran with more than 40-years of service time, for the summer parade.
Hojnacki said that the summer and winter parades have different criteria for nominees. “The holiday parade nominations will be focused on charitable work, and peoples’ efforts to help the community,” Hojnacki explained. “The summer parade nominations are centered on patriotism. Like honoring veterans or service members.”
How to be the 2019 Holiday Parade Marshal
According to the SPA, eligible candidates must be available to serve as grand marshal during the Holiday Parade on Nov. 22 and be available for photos and comments from SPA members and local media before and after the event. Nominations must be submitted online through the SPA’s website: https://www.downtownpointwi.com/parade-nominations. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 12.
Nominees will be judged on a set of criteria determined by the Stevens Point Alliance Membership. The criteria includes: the degree to which their services/ actions have made a lasting or meaningful contribution or impact on their community ; the extent to which their service or action might be considered above and beyond the call of duty; and the extent to which their actions would be recognized and valued by their peers/ community leaders
The SPA will announce a selected grand marshal around Nov. 13. The Stevens Point Holiday Parade takes place on Nov. 22, 6-9 p.m.