The City of Sanford’s annual Christmas Parade — which for years has followed a nightime route along Wicker, Steele and Carthage streets — will take a new path this December, the city announced today.
At its Sept. 1 meeting, the City Council approved Downtown Sanford Inc.’s request for street closures to accommodate the change. This year’s parade will begin at the intersection of Steele and Carthage streets, travel southwest along Carthage, turning left on to Vance Street, then left on Wicker Street and through downtown to Moore Street. After one final left turn on Carthage near Depot Park, the parade will end at Steele Street.
DSI says the amended route will hopefully “reduce the potential impact on the parade from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s construction schedule for road improvements anticipated for the western end of the downtown district.” According to the city, NCDOT is planning significant updates to Carthage between Wicker Street and Fire Tower Road, which will include the addition of sidewalks, bike lanes, concrete medians and pedestrian crosswalks.
NCDOT also plans to install roundabouts at the intersections of Carthage Street and Wicker Street, Fields Drive, and Fire Tower Road.
With these approved street closures, “DSI can establish a route and staging plan that safely and efficiently accommodates participants, spectators, downtown businesses, and changing traffic patterns,” DSI Executive Director Kelli Laudate wrote in the closure request to Sanford City Council.
“The proactive approach taken by Downtown Sanford, Inc., ensures that our city’s premier holiday tradition will continue seamlessly amidst evolving downtown infrastructure,” added Visit Sanford TDA executive director Wendy Bryan.