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  • Bristol Chamber of Commerce announces Grand Marshals for the 2024 Bristol Christmas Parade

    ChamberCommunityPress Release

    December 2, 2024
     
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     
     
    Media Contact:
    Beth Rhinehart
    Tele: (423) 989-4850
    E-Mail: brhinehart@bristolchamber.org
     
     

    Bristol Chamber of Commerce announces Grand Marshals
    for the 2024 Bristol Christmas Parade
     
    (Bristol, TN/VA) – The Bristol Chamber of Commerce has been organizing and hosting the annual Christmas Parade in downtown Bristol for decades. This holiday event is a favorite across the region and is always held on the first Thursday in December.  The parade route begins on State Street at Bob Morrison Blvd. and ends at the intersection of State Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. This year’s parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5th, 2024.
     
    “A very special part of the parade is always honoring our grand marshal(s), and this year the decision to honor our “hurricane relief heroes” and their organizations was very significant. The flooding and storm impact from Hurricane Helene across our region was unprecedented and devastating. So many individuals and organizations in our community answered the urgent call for help to jump in, assist with and lead the recovery. We were all so inspired by these folks, especially during this holiday season, and we wanted to recognize that special gift that is so remarkable in our community” says Beth Rhinehart, President & CEO of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce.
     
    The following organizations will be represented on the grand marshal float this Thursday evening, December 5th:  Ballad Health, Bristol Motor Speedway (Tanyua Kerns), Bristol, TN Fire Chief (Mike Carrier), Bristol, TN Police Chief (Matt Austin),  Bristol, VA Fire Chief (Mike Armstrong), Bristol, VA Police Chief (Retired, John Austin), Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (Clayton Dowell), BVU Authority (Don Bowman), City of Bristol, TN (Kelli Bourgeois, Wes Ritchie, Nathaniel Shephard and Juston Worden), City of Bristol, VA (Randy Eads, Doug DeCroy, Tim Fleenor and Charlotte Clark), Food City (Kevin Stafford), Hard Rock Bristol Casino and Hotel (Mark Begrin), Red Cross (Sharon Dixon), Second Harvest Food Bank (Rhonda Chafin), The United Company Foundation, United Way of Bristol TN/VA (Lorie Bradley), and VSP Med-Flight II (Trooper-Pilot Brian Canada, Trooper-Pilot Jake Culp and Civilian Pilot Jeffrey Bush).
     
    “The selfless and positive response from the community has been extraordinary,” explains William Burriss, 2024 Chairman of the Board, Bristol Chamber of Commerce. “I want to thank our entire community of Bristol for the outpouring of time, money and leadership that has been instrumental in helping our neighbors in their greatest time of need”.
     
    The Christmas Parade route begins at the intersection of W. State Street and Bob Morrison Blvd. continuing down State Street through historic downtown Bristol, ending at Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.  
     
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    About the Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce
    Established in 1909 and located in the heart of downtown, the Bristol Chamber of Commerce represents business in Bristol Tennessee, Bristol Virginia and the surrounding Tri-Cities Region. With a mission of Advancing Economic Vitality, the Bristol Chamber holds the prestigious 5-Star Accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce and is the oldest accredited Chamber in Tennessee and the second oldest accredited in Virginia.

    Bristol Chamber of Commerce announces Grand Marshals for the 2024 Bristol Christmas Parade