Orangeburg County Christmas Parade: ‘A lot of fun’; Santa, Mrs. Claus arrive Sunday

“We’re just hoping that folks will have a lot of fun. I always try to have a lot of fun. Prior to the parade, I’ll be in a golf cart going up and down the street, pepping up the crowd,” Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce President James McQuilla said.

The parade is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, and will follow its traditional route down Russell Street from Seaboard Street to Magnolia Street in Orangeburg.

“The theme is The Gingerbread House. We ask folks who are doing floats to keep that in mind. We’re always looking for new and more organizations to be a part,” McQuilla said.

Haley Gulley, local on-air personality for WGFG The CAT 105.3, is this year’s parade grand marshal.

South Carolina State University’s Marching 101 band and the Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Orange P.R.I.D.E. band will be among the parade participants.

There will also be an appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“We have a quite a few floats, organizations walking, dance schools, motorcycles and different things like that. We have several churches with floats,” McQuilla said.

“There are a lot of different types of group that could be a part of it, and we’re hoping that folks can see that this year and go, ‘You know what? That could be us next year,’” the chamber president said.

McQuilla said the forecast is being watched for the possibility of inclement weather.

“We are monitoring the weather forecast and will make a final decision Sunday morning. There is no reschedule date,” he said.

He encouraged individuals to not only consider participation in the parade, but to use the community calendar on the Chamber website at orangeburgchamber.com.

“If your church, city government, town government, school, organization or business is having an event, you can place it on the calendar. It’s a new addition to our website. The calendar is open to everybody,” McQuilla said.

“We’re opening it up until January for everyone so they can post their events, and then after that you have to be a chamber member,” he said.