Columbus’ 26th annual Festival of Lights parade will run literally in reverse of its flow in previous years to adjust to curb extensions on Brown Street, organizers said.
That has been part of the staging area, along with the Cummins Inc. parking lot, for the parade since it began.
Running the Dec. 3 event in the opposite direction — south on Brown (the opposite of normal traffic flow), east onto Third (again, the opposite of normal traffic) and then north onto Washington Street and then west onto Eighth Street — will help the staging, said Joyce Lucke said.
She’s a member of the parade committee that coordinates the 100-entry event that always closes with Santa Claus’ float.
Lining up larger vehicles such as firetrucks and other city vehicles would be tougher if the direction remained the same with the new curb extensions, Lucke said. Reversing the direction alleviates those problems.
“It not only will work out better for the staging,” Lucke said. “It also will help in getting people and their entries on and off the parade route.”
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
