Posted Thursday, September 26, 2019 6:00 am
BY SHELBIE GOULDING shelbie@theitem.com
After 25 years of a cherished holiday tradition, the Boykin Christmas Parade will be postponed until 2020 due to preparation needs.

Parade planning committee chairman Wayne Belger said with the success and growth of the event in the Kershaw County town, the committee needed time to expand and prepare for more people in the future. This will be the first time the event is taking a break, but Belger said it's necessary.

"We are taking a timeout this year to better accommodate the growing number of parade families, friends and fans who support this endeavor every year," Belger said.

Known to be the world's "wackiest" Christmas parade, it is a most peculiar and unique parade where the unexpected is expected, Belger said. The event shows off Boykin's community pride with as many as 70 "floats" comprising tractors, manure spreaders, horses, pontoons, carriages and more traveling down S.C. 261.

A man dressed like a woman is named Fat Back Queen each year, and the signature float involves Santa riding in on a different "sleigh" every time.

Belger said there was a projection of 24,000 people attending the parade this year.

"I need more time to work on traffic flow and getting more parking lined up for the future parade," Belger said. "This would be our 26th year, but it's grown to where we don't have enough room to park everybody."

The growth resulted in a need for tree removal, additional parking space and lengthening the parade route.

Belger said since the committee announced the postponement recently, volunteers and parade partners are helping to prepare for the December 2020 event.

"It was a tough decision because so many folks from all over make the parade an annual holiday tradition," Belger said.

It's also a good decision to ensure the Boykin community sticks with its tradition and makes it even more entertaining for those who do travel far to enjoy the event.