Merchantville Borough
Annual Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
Friday, November 30, 2012

Parade Rules & Guidelines

Parade Check-In & Parking

• Check-in will begin at 6:30 PM at Wellwood Park on Maple Avenue. Please be prompt.

  • Check-in will be conducted by Mr. Wally Hussong and Mr. Steve Morrone at Wellwood Park

  • Mr. Hussong and Mr. Morrone will assign your order in the parade and place you in a staging area if necessary

  • Bus and van parking will be permitted on Chestnut Avenue alongside the Train Station (near end of parade route)

  • Vehicle parking will be available behind the old PNC Bank and Verizon Building lot on Park Avenue and Merchantville School Parking lot on Centre Street (all near end of parade route). Street parking available where permitted.

Parade Route

• The parade will start from Wellwood Park at 7:00 PM sharp and proceed down Maple Avenue.

• The parade will bear left onto Park Avenue and proceed one (1) block to the intersection of Park Avenue and Centre Street. This will be the main performance area.

• The route will then continue by making a left on Centre Street and continue one (1) block to Chestnut Avenue - the parade end.

  • We ask all parade participants to please not congregate at the end point but disperse so not to stop the flow of the parade. We hope you will join the crowd for the arrival of Santa and our Tree Lighting.

Parade Performances

• As you travel along the route down Maple Avenue, the first half block of Park Avenue and Centre Street, we hope you will perform for the parade goers a few times along the way.

• Your main performance will be at the intersection of Park Avenue and Centre Street. Our parade MC will be there to assist you if need be.

  • With respect for all parade participants, we ask you limit your performance to 4 minutes or less.

  • Should you require our Disc Jockey / MC to play music to accompany your performance you must submit your music in advance.

    • All music must be submitted in .mp3 format or CD.

    • You can email your music or drop it off at Merchantville Borough Hall during normal business hours on or before Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

    • Music submitted the night of the parade runs the extreme risk of incompatibility with the Disc Jockey’s equipment and may not be played.

    • To email your music or for more information please contact John Grasso, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please include your full name, phone number and all necessary details.

    • If you wish to drop off a CD at Borough Hall to be played during the parade please see the Disc Jockey after your performance to retrieve your CD. We cannot guarantee the return of your disc after this evening. Please make sure your disc is properly labeled with your name and song selection to be played.

Safety and Weather

• Merchantville Police Officers will be continually moving throughout the parade route beginning at 6:30 PM.

  • An officer will be at Wellwood Park during check-in and at all major intersections along the parade route.

  • Should you need assistance please make contact with any officer

We will be closing the EOC at 7:00 AM. Half of the Borough East of Maple Terrace is without power, including traffic signals at Maple & Cove and at Park & Cove. No information available on PSE&G response times. All major roads throughout the Borough are open.

The regular meeting of Borough Council will take place in Borough Hall on Monday, October 15th at 7:30 p.m. Discussion on Resolutions about 2012 Solid Waste Disposal Service, West Maple Plan Phase II, Public Works manager and hiring.

Regular Trash/recycling will take place on Thursday November 1. Department of Public Works crews have been clearing roadways of debris and removing fallen trees since 7 am Tuesday. Fallen trees involving power lines must first be evaluated by PSEG before being removed. Your patience is appreciated.

There is a new 2012 polling location for District 1, 2 and 3 in the Borough of Merchantville. The new polling place is located in the Merchantville Community Center at 212 Somerset Avenue. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Election hours

HALLOWEEN UPDATE: The Borough has moved recognition of Halloween and trick or treating to Saturday, November 3, 2012 from 1 - 5 PM. Borough Code § 19-6. Halloween. it shall be unlawful for any child under the age of eighteen (18) years to be upon the public places of the Borough of Merchantville after the hour of 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the 29th day of October, the 30th day of October, and the 31st day of October, until 6:00 a.m. the following morning, unless exempted from this section under Section 19-3 of this chapter.

Safe Halloween Tips