Painted figures from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” from the 2024 J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center’s annual holiday display.
LISA PRICE / THE PAPERA beloved Burke County Christmas tradition will help locals welcome the holiday season when the 48th annual J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center’s (JIRDC) parade takes place on Thursday, Dec. 5. The center is at 300 Enola Road in Morganton.
The procession, part of many families’ annual Christmas traditions, will step off at 3 p.m. The center is expecting marching bands, fire trucks, floats, and a special appearance by Santa Claus.
This year’s Grand Marshal is Carson Clough, a silver medalist in the 2024 Paralympic Triathlon Games, and special celebrity guest WBTV News Anchor Alex Giles will also participate, according to center officials.
The parade also marks the kickoff of JIRDC’s festive holiday light display. The small displays, featuring scenes from classic storybooks, television shows and movies, are set across the center’s campus. Thousands of drive-thru visitors cruise by the scenes each year.
The Christmas displays will be illuminated daily from 5:30-10 p.m. through Dec. 31.
On parade day, one-way traffic will begin around JIRDC’s perimeter road and the second entrance to the grounds will close at noon. The front entrance will be restricted to non-emergency traffic beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Parade participants will receive detailed instructions and directions upon their arrival on campus. Roadside parking will not be permitted on Enola Road, so parade officials encourage all visitors to use the available on-campus parking. Due to construction on the JIRDC campus there will be limited parking for all guests.
Sandra Wilkerson Queen may be reached at 828-445-8595, ext. 2002, or sandra@thepaper.media.
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