Travel NC With Kids: 2014 Mocksville Christmas Parade - You Never Know What You Might See!

2014 Mocksville Christmas Parade Features Huge "Turkey!" © Katrena

November 24, 2014 was a picturesque day for a parade. No rain. No snow. No bone-chilling winds. Well, it might have been below 70 degrees, but a Christmas parade is supposed to hint a little toward December, right?

Big Boot in 2014 Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

My two older girls were torn – they wanted to ride on a float but also wanted to collect candy as spectators. They somewhat reluctantly decided to charge their younger sister with candy duty so they could ride the float and still enjoy goodies after the parade.

Beautiful Military Dog and Veteran in 2014 Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

Since there was a bit of travel gridlock around the park, we decided to watch the parade from a completely different area. Folks had lined Main Street, but there were plenty of open spots in areas along the route.

Association of Teacher Assistants in Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

It's kind of funny that for all these years, we thought the Mocksville Christmas parade didn't have much candy. We watched the parade from downtown near the oak trees...I think lots of folks riding through have already tossed most of their stash before they even arrive near the shops, because our little one sure kept busy collecting goodies this year. One sweet man who was standing beside picked up candy and decided to deposit it in her bag too...I think I like our new spot!

Mary and Joseph in Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

Parades are such a fun tradition, a time when the family can enjoy being together, or at least see one another as they ride by. I have some friends from school that I only see in person on parade days, so it can be a nice day for connecting with friends too.

Eleanor Frye, 94 Years Young, Rides in Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

A parade can be an educational opportunity too. A towing company carried a badly wrecked car with a message not to drink and drive. I explained to my 7-year-old what the sign meant...I hope she will make wise choices when she gets her license to drive some day.

Sonic Hot Dot in Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

One might also learn about businesses, churches, and more in the area. Some folks passed out business cards or coupons. One group collected canned goods as they came through. Quite a few service personnel can be found riding in the parade. We often take these folks for granted. Their positions are manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends, holidays, and days when the weather is less than ideal.

Bagpipes and Drums in 2014 Mocksville Christmas Parade © Katrena

The Mocksville Christmas parade used to be in December, but they've moved it earlier and into November. We used to have to choose between Mocksville and Cleveland since they had parades at the same time on the identical date, so the earlier date is better for us.

My Youngest Made Friends With These Folks & Their Cute Dog Before the Parade © Katrena

It also gives more time to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights and downtown Christmas shopping. Mocksville decorates their Main Street in full holiday splendor around Christmas, even lighting up the four oak trees at the square.

Davie County has lots of classic cars, offering free car shows at the Cruise In during warmer months. Many of those cars are also in the Christmas parade. I also recognized quite a few tractors from the tractor parade in July.

I've tried to include a mix of photos in this article. As you can see, some of the entries this year were quite unique and unusual. The element of surprise can be so much fun at a parade! The theme for this year's parade was "Let It Snow." It was no surprise that many folks chose a "Frozen" theme.