By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Dec. 6, 2000
Skeptics who say there's nothing to do in Meridian will have to eat their words Thursday night as one of the state's largest Christmas parades winds its way through the downtown.
The parade begins at 6:30 p.m.
With 186 entries from 138 groups, the Meridian parade may be the largest in the state. Last year, 120 groups participated.
The parade is sponsored by the Downtown Association. Coats has served as the chairman on the organizing committee for about six years.
Coats said this year's parade should be very colorful with a theme especially suited for its young watchers a Cartoon Christmas.
Though the large number of floats in this year's parade means more entertainment, Coats cautions that if people want to watch the event in the very heart of the city they need to be prepared to walk to the middle of downtown because of large crowds.
While those who are preparing to watch the parade may want to show up a bit early, Coats says those who are in the parade and wish to have their floats judged need to be in place even earlier between 5:15 and 6 p.m.
Comcast will broadcast the parade live on cable channel 12.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.