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What you need to know for upcoming local parades

Check out times, road closures, themes, and extra festivities for the parades in Bentonville, Fort Smith, Van Buren, and Lamar on Dec. 9.

ARKANSAS, USA — Holiday festivities are kicking off all across 5COUNTRY this weekend. Here's what you need to know for parades you might attend on Saturday, Dec. 9: 

Bentonville

Bentonville's parade will start in Downtown Bentonville at 5 p.m. and will last until 7:30 p.m. 5NEWS anchors Daren Bobb and Alexandra Burnley will emcee the two-hour parade. Catch them at the intersection of Central Avenue and Main Street. 

The theme for this year's parade is "Merry and Bright."

Downtown Bentonville, Inc. said the parade will start at the corner of 8th and Main Streets, continue down Main, make a lap around Bentonville Square, take a left on SW A Street off of NW 2nd Street, and end at First Baptist Church between 2nd and 3rd Streets. 

Bentonville Square and parts of Main Street, SW A Street, SW 2nd Street, NE A Street, and Central Avenue will be closed for the parade. 

Fort Smith

Fort Smith's parade will begin in Downtown Fort Smith at 3 p.m. and end around 5 p.m.

The City of Fort Smith said the parade will start on 10th Street, turn left on Rogers Avenue, turn right onto 6th Street, and then turn right again on Garrison Avenue. The parade will continue down Garrison and turn onto Towson Avenue for a block. It will turn right onto Carnall Avenue and conclude on 10th Street.

Parts of Garrison Avenue, Rogers Avenue, 6th Street, Carnall Avenue, 10th Street, and Towson Avenue will be closed until the last float finishes the route. 

Van Buren

Van Buren is holding a "Christmas in Toyland" parade from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in its historic downtown. The parade will travel down Main Street, therefore the street will be closed to through traffic. 

Before the parade, Van Buren will also hold multiple festivities for "Holiday in Whoville on Main Street" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Grinch festivities include:

  • Breakfast with the Grinch at 816 Main Street at 9 a.m.
  • Grinch Scavenger Hunt from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Who-Hair Salon at Sophisticuts at 607 Main Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Grinchy Free Craft Project at Arts on Main at 415 Main Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Selfies with the Grinch from 11 a.m. to noon.
  • There are also merchant shopping specials, Grinch cookies available at Baked on Main, a holiday market at Arts on Maine, and an opportunity to write Christmas letters to the military at Da'Bayou Snowballs at 518 Main Street. 

Lamar

The City of Lamar will have their annual Christmas parade at 2 p.m. The parade will begin at the Cabin Creek Baptist Church on Highway 64 and end at the Lamar Baptist Church at 300 E Main Street. 

There will be an opportunity for the children to meet and get their photo taken with Santa at the Lamar City Hall following the parade. 

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