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riental’s Spirit Of Christmas weekend this year will be Friday & Saturday December 8-9. One mainstay of the holiday festival is the Saturday afternoon Spirit Of Christmas parade. That’s 1pm on the 9th. Right now though, the parade needs a theme.

Last year the theme was The Polar Express. In 2015, it was Merry Dinghy Christmas. 2014, Holidays in the Movies Before that, White Christmas, Songs of the Holidays, Christmas Around The World. It’s been 12 Days of Christmas more than once.

It’s a big task, coming up with a new theme. Paul Fairbank, back as the Christmas parade master, is looking for your creative input to help him out. (That’s Paul at right.)

So, put your brilliant brain to work and create the 2017 Spirit Of Christmas theme. Then email it to parade@towndock.net. Multiple entries are fine.

Winner – to be announced Wednesday November 15 – will get fame and accolades. Here are the suggestions so far:

“Drag-On In to Oriental for Christmas”
“‘Fishing’ You a Merry Christmas”
“Lighting Up The Holidays at Mile Marker 182”
“Parade of Lights”
“Parade of Trees”
“Christmas in OrientalLand”
“Oriental Christmas Town”

- Flora Moorman

“Let There Be Light!”

- Pat Dixon

“It’s a Wonderful Town”
“Miracle on Broad Street”

- Mike Styron

“What’s Up ?” For a “happening” town.

- Grace Evans

“Oriental’s first Christmas” (1899 style)

- Melanie Dixon Campen

“Yule Tide on the Neuse”
or You’ll Tide on the Neuse

“It’s a Wonderful Life”
(Best Christmas movie ever
Oriental is like Bedford Falls
we’re all rich with friends)

- Gordon Pickett

“Christmas has gone to the dogs”

- Andy Barnett

“Southern Christmas”
“Elves on the Shelves”

- Kathie Mau

“We Three Kings of Oriental are…”

- Ed Ruppert

“We Woof You a Merry Christmas” (Dog theme)
“(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” (Perry Como song)
“12 Days of Christmas (themes from the carol)”
“Christmas on the Orient(al) Express”

- Frank and Lili Bacon

“Merry SailMas”
Reasoning: We are the sailing capital. Easy theme for floats and displays.
Merry SailMas to you!
- Captain John Rahm

How about “Rudolph the Red Nose Shrimpdeer” as the Christmas theme? Oriental thrives on shrimp, Santa’s sleigh could be a flying fishing shrimp boat, etc.

Or just a Christmas Shrimp theme?

Happy holidays!

- Debra Gold.

“waSAILing in Oriental”

Wassail! wassail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink unto thee.

– Diane H. Miller

“Ugly Christmas Sweater”
“Ginger Bread House”
“A Grinchy Christmas”

- Steve Polk

“Yule Float Bye”

- Casey Hudson

With global warming and the occasion to have Jimmy Buffetts’ boat hauled locally, perhaps a tropical or Pina Colada Christmas theme. Kinda fun even if it turns frigid … not to mention Paul would be absolutely FAB in a grass skirt and all.

- Will Smith

“Oriental Dreaming (on such a winter’s day)”
Applies to part-time Oriental residents.

- Brian McLamb

“Sailing Santa Spirit”“
“Spirit of the Orient”
“Sailing Santa Express”
“Santa’s Oriental Express”

- Denise Staley-Garner

O’Christmas

- Mary Anne Thomas.

“O Tannenbaum”

- Cynthia Ray

What the Dickens?

- Judi Heit

“Dear (Deer) Santa”

“A Merry Little Christmas” (miniature stuff)

- Carol Small

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

- Jean White

The following parade theme ideas comes from First Citizens Bank as a group. We’ve been brainstorming all together and have come up with a few.

“Christmas Under The Sea” (our favorite)
“Christmas On The Silver Screen”
“Christmas At The Movies”
“Santa’s Workshop”
“Christmas Around The World”

“Thank You For Your Service” A tribute to all our service members, veterans, and first responders.

- Janet & Manny Chinea

“Living in paradise” Many travelers say we do. - Ginnie Goodwin

“Mr. & Mrs Santa Claus and their elves’‘
“A Dragon’s Christmas”

- Ginger Barnett

“It’s a Dog’s Life”
“Christmas Around the World” (International Christmas?)

- Laura Patterson

Some previous Spirit Of Christmas pics for inspiration:

• Spirit Of Christmas Parade 2015
• Spirit Of Christmas 2014
• 2014 Spirit Of Christmas Parade

Posted Sunday November 12, 2017 by Melinda Penkava