Santa was the last to make an appearance in McLean’s seventh annual WinterFest parade on Sunday, Dec. 6. This year's parade will take place on Sunday Dec. 4th at 2:45 p.m. on on Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Caroline Watkins
On Sunday, Dec. 4, McLean residents will welcome in the holidays as fun and fancy entries proceed down Old Chain Bridge Road for the eighth annual WinterFest parade. The stage will be set in the Langley Shopping Center, with Peggy Fox from WUSA Channel 9, again calling the parade. Parade entries will begin at Fleetwood Road and proceed down Old Chain Bridge Road to Elm Street if in a vehicle, or turn up Curran Street if marching. Old Chain Bridge Road will be closed to all traffic from 2:15 to 5:30 p.m. on the day of the parade. Langley Shopping Center parking lot, as well as all other business lots and shopping centers on the parade route, will be closed to all traffic as of 2 p.m. until the conclusion of the parade. The Safeway parking lot will be accessible only from Chain Bridge Road.
Pre-parade entertainment begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be introduced by local business leader, Bill DuBose. It will include performances by students from Westgate, Spring Hill and Kent Gardens Elementary Schools. Food vendors will be available in the Langley Shopping Center parking lot and will include Mama’s Donut Bites, Crepe Love and Doug the Food Dude.
As in years past, parade observers are asked to bring a gift card for food or merchandise that will be passed along to Share of McLean. There will be a giant holiday stocking in the front of the stage for gift cards or cash donations to Share.
The parade steps off promptly at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. This year’s WinterFest parade will be bigger and better than ever. Go to www.mcleanwinterfest.org to see the local businesses that have donated to WinterFest to help make it a success. You can also find additional parade information such as parking options, the parade route and road closure points.