Step Back In Time: Highlights From The 85th Owensboro Christmas Parade

The 85th Annual Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade was Saturday evening in downtown Owensboro.  The cloudy afternoon and chilly temperatures didn't put a single damper on the holiday spirit and the event, billed as the place "Where Kentucky Starts Christmas," delivered. Not only is Owensboro's annual Christmas parade the first one annually in the state, it's also the biggest.

'A VINTAGE CHRISTMAS' AT OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS PARADE

Thousands of spectators brought their bag chairs, their blankets, and their children to watch Saturday as over 100 floats traveled east to west along 2nd Street downtown. This year's parade theme was "A Vintage Christmas" and participants interpreted that theme in a variety of ways. For instance, Harvest Baptist's parade entry was inspired by the beloved carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The song was written by Charles Wesley back in 1739.

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Many in the parade took "vintage" to mean "vintage toys" and there were Radio Flyer wagons, classic rocking horses, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Rubik's Cubes, and more.

Each year, a panel of judges awards prizes for the most creative floats in the parade. Entries are judged on various criteria- including creativity, use of the theme, use of lights and more.

THE 2024 OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS PARADE WINNERS

Most Effective Use of Lighting

Daviess County Public Schools Transportation

Schools & School Clubs, & Scouts

1. OCTC CDL Program

2.  Girl Scout Troop 1592

3.  Girl Scout Troop 1144

Churches

1.  Harvest Baptist of Owensboro

2. Matthews Table

3. Bellevue Baptist Church

Commercial, Government, & Municipalities

1.  US Bank

2. Moms Cleaning Service

3.  Owensboro Garage Doors

Organizations & Clubs

1.  Friends of Butler County Animals

2.  KY Chrome Softball

3. Green Valley Beekeeping Association

While many people chose to come down and watch the parade in person, hundreds more tuned in online to watch the parade via Owensboro Times' live stream on Facebook. Coverage was sponsored by Owensboro Health (the presenting sponsor of the parade), Glenn Family Services, and River Valley Behavioral Health.

HOW TO WATCH THE OWENSBORO-DAVIESS COUNTY CHRISTMAS PARADE

If you missed the parade and want to go back and watch it, you're in luck!  Heck, if you were in the parade and want to go back and watch yourself and the parts of the parade you didn't see, you're in luck as well. The 85th Annual Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade, as called by long-time parade committee member Jane Head and yours truly, will remain available on social media through the holiday season.

You can relive the parade coverage, complete with overhead drones and an FPV (which weaved in and out of the parade at street level) here!

And for more looks at a "vintage" Christmas, check these out!