KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce has unveiled this year’s theme for the 69^th annual Christmas Parade, sponsored by Stan McNabb, will be “There’s Snow Place like Home.”

The chamber made the announcement during its Chamber Coffee event this week at the Hands-On Science Center by Trent McNabb and Kristen Breyette, co-chairs of the Christmas Parade Committee, as well as online on its social media accounts.

In the post announcement, McNabb sat with Santa Claus as they went through submissions before selecting the winning theme.

This year’s winning theme, “There’s Snow Place like Home,” was by Willa McKee of Robert E. Lee Elementary School. In the post, Santa thanked Willa for helping with the parade theme.

“What a great theme for our 69^th annual Tullahoma Christmas Parade,” McNabb said.

Back in August, Santa arrived to each of the elementary schools to announce the parade theme contest.

Since 2020, the chamber of commerce has gone to the elementary schools in the school districts and asked students to submit a theme. The committee would then choose the theme where the winning school will receive a free float entry into the parade. The past winners and themes have included last year’s winner Robert E. Lee Elementary School with “Planes, Trains and Candy Canes,” Jack T. Farrar Elementary School with the themes of “Winter Wonderland” in 2023 and “A Classic Christmas” in 2022 and East Middle School with “A Cartoon Christmas” in 2021.

The chamber is also looking for this year’s Christmas parade Grand Marshal, which the chamber has received 65 nominations thus far. Those interested in submitting a nomination can go to https://forms.gle/qd769NrrNxTZsGs6A. The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, Oct. 7, and the chamber will announce the grand marshal at the October Chamber Coffee.

As for floats, Executive Director Hope Nunley said registration starts Oct. 1. She added that for this year’s parade, there will be a cap of 120 float entries in order to keep the parade at a one-hour length.

The 69^th annual Tullahoma Christmas Parade will take place on Friday, Dec. 5. The Grand Marshal reception will take place prior to the parade on Thursday, Dec. 4, at South Jackson Performing Arts Center.