HUNTINGTON -- The Downtown Live Committee is looking for groups to participate in this year's Huntington Christmas Parade at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Marching bands, church groups, dance troupes, boy and girl scouts and any other talent, group or club is encouraged to participate in the festivities.

U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., will be the grand marshal for the 2009 parade.

Lineup will start at 6 p.m., and the parade will travel from 13th Street to 8th Street on 4th Avenue in Huntington. Then the participants will march down 8th Street to 3rd Avenue. From there, the parade will continue down 3rd Avenue to Pullman Square and disperse at 10th Street.

The groups will be invited to do a short performance in front of the Elks Lodge on 4th Avenue near 10th Street. City and county officials will be the guests of honor on the reviewing stand.

The marching bands that participate will be entered in a drawing for $500. The winner will be announced after the parade. Also following the parade, a dance group from Jeslyn Performing Arts Center and other area groups will offer a performance to some Christmas favorites.

The Downtown Live Committee is a committee of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce. The group's purpose is to plan and execute events downtown that will create retail and restaurant traffic for area businesses.

If you have any questions or would like to register your group for the parade, please contact Holly Rice at the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce at 304-525-5131 or holly@huntingtonchamber.org.

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