EASLEY — The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce announced recently it has assumed ownership and management of Easley’s annual Christmas parade, formerly managed by the city of Easley.

The change in event ownership will also come with a change in event date and time, with the parade moving to an evening time on the second Saturday of December. This year’s event, the Easley Christmas Parade of Lights, is set for Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. and is being presented by Hendrick Honda of Easley.

“With the city re-evaluating the many events it manages each year, the Easley Chamber saw a unique opportunity to support our community by taking ownership of the annual Christmas parade,” chamber president Cindy Hopkins said. “In our discussions, everyone was interested in growing the parade attendance, for both parade entries and spectators. Our chamber feels we could help with this goal since the footprint of our membership reaches far beyond the boundary of the city limits. We hope to recruit new parade entries from our business base, as well as attract more parade spectators from surrounding areas.”

Chamber officials also think that changing the parade date and time is another important factor in growing the participation.

“In recent years, there has been discussion from downtown merchants to move the parade to an evening time,” Hopkins said. “We think a Saturday evening makes it easier for groups and families to participate, plus the illumination aspect of an evening parade will create more excitement and will align perfectly with the city’s grand illumination event to celebrate the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree.”

The date of the city of Easley’s grand illumination event, which features holiday caroling, the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree and the arrival of Santa, will also move to the second Saturday of December to coincide with the new Christmas Parade of Lights.

The grand illumination festivities will begin immediately following the parade.

“We are extremely thrilled that the Easley Chamber of Commerce has taken on the responsibility of the Easley Christmas Parade this year,” Easley mayor Larry Bagwell said. “I wish them great success and invite everyone to attend and join me in the annual grand illumination ceremony following the parade back at City Hall.”

Hopkins noted that the chamber will work with the Easley Downtown Business Association to coordinate with downtown merchants to extend their business hours during the parade and grand illumination events.

“For our Easley Chamber of Commerce, it’s a business driver,” she said. “The greater participation we have in the parade, the more traffic we can help generate for our local restaurants and retailers. In the end, our involvement with the annual parade ties directly to our organizational mission to provide leadership and resources to strengthen the greater Easley business community.”

For more information on the Easley Christmas Parade of Lights, call the Easley Chamber at (864) 859-2693 or visit easleychamber.org.

Following its recent Super Saturday, the Pickens Rec Department hosted a community NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Competition. Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 15 were welcome to compete.