home

Update Monday November 16. We have a winner:

The winning entry – “Merry Dinghy Christmas” – came from the brain of Will Flannery. Will suggested “A Christmas parade of dinghies and small boats on dollies. Have a Merry Dinghy Christmas.” This entry was the unanimous selection of the Parade Judges, led by Senior Judge & Parade Master Paul Fairbank.

Thanks to all for your entries. And mark your calendars for the Spirit Of Christmas Parade – Saturday December 12, 1p.

---

Y

ou’ve not held back. TownDock.net & Parade Master Paul asked readers to share their ideas for a theme for this year’s Spirit of Christmas Parade (which is Saturday, December 12).

So far, several suggestions play on a nautical theme. One cross-referenced Christmas with the Marine Corps 240th Anniversary dinner. One calls for a religious tone. Another reader seems to suggest a winter solstice theme with an ever-widening cast of characters. Also mixed in – a query asking why a theme is needed at all.

The quick answer might be that this does the job for and simply amuses the parade meister (who must be amused). Asking for themes also gives an airing to ideas — some very funny — that while they might never be a parade theme, just give us a laugh. In this coming holiday season, when things get to be too much, recalling that someone thought to rhyme “Kris Kringle” with “shingle” might just help you make it through.

We’re here to help, bless our heart.

Your idea will help calm this man

Winner to be announced Monday, November 16. There’s still time to send in your parade theme suggestions. Email them to parade@towndock.net Here’s what’s come in so far…

“Sail into the Season”

- Wilma Kennedy

Have we all forgotten what Christmas is all about? Our theme this year should be
“Keep Christ In Christmas” for without him there would be no Christmas

- Eileen Miles

Deck Your Sails with an Oriental Christmas

- Flora Moorman

“Peace on Earth begins in Oriental”

Judy Berry

Christmas reminds us of so many things…presents around a glistening trimmed tree, sharing eggnog with friends, singing carols with those we love and most important of all celebrating the birth of Jesus. I think of hope for the future and acts of kindness in the here and now. A theme of “Ring in Peace Around the World” with bells and different Christmas traditions represented might be one option out of the many ideas you receive.

- Paula James

“Sailing in a Winter Waterland,”

or,

“Jingle Boats”

(Getting’ silly…)

“We Fish you a Merry Christmas”

- Dottie Gallagher

“A NC Christmas”

“Parade of Trees” – either a very involved local tree person as Parade Grand Marshall.

Kathie Mau

“What A Wonderful World”

“ A Festival of Trees”

Judy Berry

- Judy Berry

“A Spirit of Revival in Oriental”

- Susan Banks

Piggy-backing a bit on Gordon Pickett’s theme, how about a look back at “Christmas 1945”?

- Pat Thomaier Messer

“Flights of Fancy” – for all good gulls and buoys

- Helen Smith

It’s November 11th, so I’m thinking about our veterans; let’s try to find a way thank them in the parade this year. Since 1776, more than 40 million Americans have served in the armed forces, and thanks to their sacrifices, we are free to celebrate Christmas, Yom Kippur, Ramadan and any other holiday we choose.

I suspect there is a small number of men and women in Pamlico County that served during WWII, and will not be here for many more Christmases; let’s find them and honor them.

- Gordon Pickett

Rudolph the red nosed dragon

- Marilyn Stern

Since it’s being held on December 12th, how about the “Twelve Days of Christmas!”

- Sandy Pugh

What about “Feelin’ Christmas-Sea.” Inspired by the poem, Christmas At Sea, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

- Jan Healy

“A Griswold Family Christmas”

Phyllis Yodlowski

“Winter Waterland”

- Carol Dixon

How about “El Niño”?

- Lorin Eastin

‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas in Oriental.”

- Diane Miller

“Get Orientaled” at the Spirit of Christmas Parade.

- Branson Dunn

Christmas parade of dinghies and small boats on dollies. Have a Merry Dinghy Christmas

- Captain William Dennis Flannery.

Twas’ the Night Before ….
It’s a Bird, it’s a plane…it’s a Reindeer
Sandy Claws is Coming to Town
Miracle on Broad Street
Duck the Halls

- Don Mau

Even Kris Kringle likes $#@! on a shingle (Toys for Tots).

- Sarah Risso.

How about “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Here at Seafarer we love Charlie Brown.

- Frieda Gutkowski

Elves, knoms, and grenches.

- Jeff Troeltzsch

Hi Folks,
Here’s a question for the ages: Why do we need a THEME for our CHRISTMAS parade? Shouldn’t “Christmas” be the annually recurring theme of a Christmas Parade? Traditional Christmas is already loaded with a huge variety of thematic material. And I might add, material that has withstood the test of time. All that being said, I do understand that everyone wants to keep things fresh and interesting year after year, but come on, Oriental already has the best darn Christmas parade to be found anywhere: Santa, sailboats, Shriners, fire trucks and all the rest. You just can’t beat it.

Why not just skip the “theme” part this year, have the parade, and hope for the best. I guarantee it will turn out just fine.

Paul Jordan

And trolls.

- Jeff Troeltzsch

“Christmas in the Movies”

- Susan Dillard

“Celebrating Baby Jesus’ Birthday”

- Al Privette

“The Music and Magic of Christmas”

- Deb Jaeger, Oriental.

“Stocking stuffers.”

- Laura Turgeon

“Cruising to Christmas” (obvious but couldn’t help it)

“A Shining Christmas” or “Christmas is a Shining Thing” (this could be spiritual or all about glitz)

“Goodwill on Parade” (cause I like themes of kindness and goodwill—country seems to be getting a bit too harsh and divided)

“Fuel for the Yule” (read into this one whatever you choose, only I know what I was thinking and I’m not sharing)

I sure hope you get better ideas than these!

- Debra Khouri

And hobbits.

- Jeff Troeltzsch

It should be obvious, if Oriental is the Sailing Capital of North Carolina then “Sailing into Christmas and a New Year.” Or perhaps “Sailing into the Holidays.”

- John Y. Jackson

And Druids.

- Jeff Troeltzsch

Posted Tuesday November 10, 2015 by Melinda Penkava