The annual Downtown Warren Christmas Walk and Parade will take place this year from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4.

Maybe not right this very minute, but we need a little Christmas now.

COVID-19 has shut down and just plain ruined many things this year.

The annual Downtown Warren Christmas Walk and Parade will be limited, but it is not being canceled.

The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4.

The challenge for the organizers at the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry was to hold a parade without violating social distancing guidelines or maximum gathering sizes.

WCCBI gathered a group of city leaders and came up with some plans.

“Due to the current pandemic, we decided that a parade was not in the best interest of our community’s citizens,” WCCBI’s Savannah Casey said. “In order to adhere to the 250 maximum number of people allowed at an outdoor event, we could not find an efficient way to host a parade without causing additional risk of expose to the coronavirus.”

“Prioritizing our community’s health and well-being is the biggest reasoning behind the decisions we make for our events,” Casey said.

Still, the Christmas parade is a popular annual event. They didn’t want to simply cancel it.

“We still wanted to offer something that would help promote and showcase our local businesses and non-profit organizations,” Casey said. “We decided that a virtual parade would still offer that to our businesses and allow for citizens of our community to show support.”

Ernie Crawford, a retired leader of the BSA Chief Cornplanter Council, brought an idea for a parade of tiny floats to the discussion.

“A general idea of this style of parade was given to WCCBI by Ernie Crawford, after he recently visited his parents and saw a local newspaper article about another canceled Christmas parade and how that community might handle their upcoming holiday season events,” Casey said. “(WCCBI’s) John (Papalia) and I expanded on the idea, including the details about the Christmas walk, and grew the ‘event’ from there.”

The details, so far, look like this:

Any business or non-profit may enter a float by filling out an entry form and sending it to Casey by email to szimmerman@wccbi.org or by mail to WCCBI, 308 Market St., Warren, 16365.

A shoe box, or other shoe box sized box — not greater than 13 inches in height, 18 inches in length, and 12 inches in width, regardless of the designer’s shoe size — makes up the body of the float. The people doing the decorating for the business or non-profit may decorate the box as they see fit, but it must represent the business or organization.

Video will be shot as the floats — strung together — are pulled along a snowy, indoor “road” at WCCBI.

Floats are not to have wheels — they will be dragged. Commentating will be in the familiar voices of Mark Silvis and Dale Bliss.

Entry forms and floats must be returned by Nov. 27.

“Individual photos of all the floats will be uploaded to the WCCBI Facebook page on Tuesday, Dec. 1,” Casey said.

Voting for “People’s Choice Award” will be done on Facebook. Voting will close at 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4.

A donation of $200 — $100 each from WCCBI and the Warren County Visitors Bureau — will be made in the name of the award winner to Toys for Tots.

“The group was looking for unique ways to award the winning float a prize,” Casey said. “WCCBI staff came to the idea that donating the money to a charitable organization that services all of Warren County, specific to the spirit of giving during the holiday season. The only organization we could think that fit that profile was Toys for Tots.”

“The local impact of Toys for Tots, during 2019, was 747 children supported and over 7,600 toys distributed,” she said. “Due to COVID-19, families are experiencing greater financial impacts this holiday season. We are hoping that our donation can further support that organization’s great mission. The check will be made out to Toys for Tots on behalf of the winning float’s business/organization.”

In addition to being posted on social media, the video will be played downtown during the Christmas Walk — which is still on, though limited.

“WCCBI will have our large blow-up screen, typically used for outdoor movies at the Carpool, on downtown Liberty Street,” Casey said. “The parade will be on played on a loop, via projector, on to that screen.”

“The walk is on and it is up to individual discretion,” she said. “Folks are reminded that businesses must still adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, including but not limited to wearing a mask, sanitizing, and staying 6 feet apart.”

“Downtown businesses are encouraged to participate by staying open during the hours of 5 to 7 p.m.,” she said. “If a business will be participating, they are encouraged to contact myself, or John Papalia, at 814-723-3050 to let us know any specific details they may be offering that night or incentives/activities available to our community.”

Boy Scouts of the Chief Cornplanter Council will be roasting, and selling, chestnuts, and the Lions Club will have their wagon open for business. Both of those will be in the area of Liberty Street and Second Avenue.

Exactly when Santa will be able to stop by has not been determined, but a visit is on the calendar.