Roundtable: Do you like holiday parade changes?

What do you think about the changes to the Galesburg holiday parade?

Hope changes will draw crowd

Well, I’m on the committee and support these changes. If you grew up in Galesburg in the 1990s and prior, you’d know that our parades were nice and had floats. I’m not sure why that stopped, and the board recognized that. Just this month was the Labor Day Parade, and people showed up! Hoping that with the new changes to the Holly Days Parade that people will show up again.

Why should we have to keep going out of town to the Festival of Lights and other light shows? Why can’t we have stuff like that here? Some of the comments have really made me laugh because you can’t please everyone. You can’t know if something will be successful until you try. Not trying is worse than failure, at least you can learn from what did and didn’t go right, regroup and come back better. This is just the beginning! — Courtney Wallace

Sure. Why not an evening parade?

In the mid '70s, the Jaycees helped to stage the parade. A traveling company brought in costumes, and the Jaycees and friends rambled down Main Street on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. 

I remember a bitterly cold day in the early '90s when the parade was canceled, breaking the hearts of several junior high band members who were expecting to march in their first parade.

It is inevitable that an event like this undergoes changes, many of which reflect the changes in the community. Sure, why not try an evening parade? The weather always has the final call on whether the marchers will step off.

As to changing the name, again, why not? Holly was originally used by Druids and Celts to celebrate the winter solstice. Changing the name reflects solidarity with our Druid brothers and sisters and tree worshipers everywhere. Now, maybe something for the Wicans? — Harry Bulkeley

Adding lights to season of light makes sense

My first reaction is admiration for the planners' willingness to try something new. The turnout for the Labor Day parade made clear the enthusiasm of our citizens for parade attendance. Because it will be outside and people can mask and space themselves, there will be less uneasiness about congregating even if the COVID numbers remain high.

The winter solstice is a season of light throughout the northern hemisphere so the idea of a lighted, early evening parade is very appropriate, and likely to be welcomed by many. Whatever it’s called, the 12 days theme attaches it to traditional Anglo Christmas celebrations. The song is widely familiar and recognizable and if enough groups participate to create the floats, this plan should be very successful. Adding lights at the O.T. Johnson's lot will add a nice touch. Recently December has been milder than in earlier times, so it seems reasonable to hope that local and area high school bands will participate — they really are the basic ingredient in all parades. — Laurie Muelder

Name change attacks what people find holy

I’m a bit torn by the change. I was brought up in a family that observed and enjoyed the Christian holidays. Later, as an adult, I converted to Judaism; however, my family is still Christian and we observe holidays from both traditions. I also am not particularly patient with the “we’ve always done it this way” attitude. I enjoy change. 

Here we have tension between tradition and potential change. Change could be a good thing but I emphatically oppose anything that will trample the traditions of the very thing that made the holidays what they are and have been. The season was built around Christmas. The name, Galesburg Holly Days Parade, seems to be a deliberate attack on what some people find Holy; the plant is holly, not the days. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. 

My family will light Hanukah candles for and set up a Christmas Tree. — Charlie Gruner

Night parade a wonderful idea to celebrate holidays

I have been to a few holiday parades — even attended Macy’s one year. I have attended the wonderful Tempe, Arizona, “Festival of Lights” parade which is also at night on the day after Thanksgiving. The weather there makes it so there is a very full evening of celebration to kick off the holidays. I would hope that some of the local restaurants near the Galesburg parade route would tie in with this evening event. What a better way to spend a night to see the parade and head out for a nice meal or libation. 

Hey Orpheum! How about a holiday movie that night as well! This night parade is a wonderful idea to celebrate the holidays for everyone. And that is the key element — it is a celebration for all to embrace. I know that there are guidelines for the suggested parade participants and I also noted that all of the participants have to submit their group affiliation along with a description of their entry. I would hope that all who participate do so in the spirit of community and with the intent to celebrate difference. Whatever holiday you celebrate or even if you are a bit of a scrooge, there is nothing that should stop you from taking some time to show love, to be compassionate, and to promote peace. This “Holly Days” event is about inclusion and it is about creating some special memories for all. Make it so. — Stephen Podwojski

The Community Roundtable runs each Friday and is made up of local writers. Community writers answer one question each week in 150 words or fewer.