In this file photo taken Dec. 8, 2023, vendors sell colorful lights and other items before Friday's the annual Reed's Christmas Parade in Tupelo.
In this file photo from December 2023, some children hold bags in hopes of filling them with candy thrown from the floats at Reed's Tupelo Christmas Parade in Tupelo, Miss.
This map, provided by the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, shows the route of the 76th annual Reed's Tupelo Christmas Parade.
TUPELO — One of the hallmarks of Northeast Mississippi’s holiday season is just around the corner with the return of Reed’s Annual Tupelo Christmas Parade a little over a week away.
Now in its 76th year, the Reed’s Tupelo Christmas Parade is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6, starting at 6 p.m. in downtown Tupelo. It’s a tradition that spans generations, and Reed’s owner and former Tupelo Mayor Jack Reed, Jr. said the parade is the highlight of the holidays for him as it has been for thousands of people over its nearly eight decades, noting that he has been going to the parade every year since he was a child.
“I bet I’ve been to the last 72 (parades),” Reed said. “We are very proud of it. One of the reasons we are in business is to be able to give back to our community, and this is the best family event that we know of that we can help sponsor. It is a privilege to be able to provide it.”
Each year’s parade carries a different holiday motif; this year’s theme is “Christmas Dreams Do Come True.”
The parade is the largest annual event that the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association (DTMSA) organizes, DTMSA Executive Director Lucia Randle said. The event will start at Front Street on the east side, moving west.
“We’ve got a lot of participation this year. We are looking forward to a safe and celebratory event,” Randle said. “I’m just thrilled … our marshals, I can’t think of a more deserving group of people and the difference they’ve made.”
Randle said information provided by the Community Development Foundation show over 20,000 individuals attended last year’s event, based on cell phone numbers. With all those people, traffic is bound to get backed up, and she said it was important for parade-goers and those downtown to be patient.
Randle said it takes effort from every city department, working alongside a host of volunteers, to make the beloved parade possible.
“It is by far the largest event that we facilitate,” she said. “This is the largest Christmas parade in North Mississippi. It is a time to celebrate the holidays and the good things. Everyone has to have a little patience leaving downtown.”
Each year the association and Reed’s honors a person, business or organization by naming them the grand marshal of the parade. This year, the Regional Rehabilitation Center will serve in that role.
“It is an opportunity for us to honor the great people and organizations,” Reed said. “There are none better than the Regional Rehab Center, and we are delighted to be able to put the spotlight on them.”
