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A PARADE IN TRANSITION: HOW COOKEVILLE’S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION CHANGED HANDS — AND WHAT CAME NEXT
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When the Cookeville Chamber of Commerce stepped away from coordinating the annual Christmas Parade, a gap opened in one of the city’s longest-standing holiday traditions. That gap was quickly met by a group of churches and volunteers who simply wanted to preserve a cherished community event and keep Christ at the center of the season.
Over the course of several weeks, those churches worked together to create a plan, raise funds, and offer a family-friendly, Christ-centered parade. Their intention, multiple organizers say, was straightforward: to honor their beliefs, provide a safe environment for families, and ensure that parade costs did not fall on the city.
But as soon as their involvement became public, the churches found themselves facing criticism from multiple directions — much of it rooted in misunderstanding.
The Statement of Faith Confusion
To participate in the church-led parade, applicants were asked to acknowledge a Statement of Faith.
Not adopt it.
Not profess it.
Not agree with it.
Simply acknowledge it — much like a Terms & Conditions disclaimer that clarifies who is underwriting an event.
Not adopt it.
Not profess it.
Not agree with it.
Simply acknowledge it — much like a Terms & Conditions disclaimer that clarifies who is underwriting an event.
The acknowledgment served two purposes:
- It notified participants that the parade was funded and coordinated by Christian churches.
- It allowed organizers to decline entries that did not align with a family-friendly atmosphere.
Several pastors emphasized that the acknowledgment was not a requirement for anyone to declare personal belief. Still, online reactions quickly framed it differently, and the controversy escalated.
As one community member wrote in response to a viral rumor:
“This is only a statement of faith. This is not, in any way, a requirement for anyone to ‘believe’ it to apply. They read it, they initial it — which says ‘yes, I understand.’ It, by no means, forces folks to state their own faith.”
A History of Rising Tensions
Long before churches stepped in, past parade cycles had already been marked by conflict.
Several residents recall disagreements over incomplete applications, concerns about floats, and disputes about eligibility.
Several residents recall disagreements over incomplete applications, concerns about floats, and disputes about eligibility.
To protect maintain a family-friendly standard, previous organizers — not just churches — had at times denied entries. But with the rise of social media commentary, these decisions were often misunderstood or mischaracterized.
As one longtime volunteer summarized it:
“Everyone with kids loves the parade, and everyone that wants something different needs to organize something different.”
The City Steps In
In late October, the Cookeville City Council voted to assume control of the parade and create a city-appointed parade committee. That committee then invited a diverse group of residents to participate.
The transition, however, was rapid — leaving little time for public input and creating uncertainty about how the event would be shaped moving forward.
While the city shifted to a more secular theme (“classic holiday tales and characters”), many residents questioned whether the parade would still reflect the Christmas story itself.
Social Media Complications
As the new committee formed, social media discussions added noise to an already strained process. In one public thread, a local adult business joked about participating in the parade, prompting comments about whether a float could be decorated with lights and props.
The exchange was brief, but for some citizens, it symbolized the growing disconnect between the original vision for a family-friendly Christmas celebration and the parade’s new direction.
This moment — along with other online commentary — contributed to the sense among churches that their good-faith effort was not only misunderstood but criticized from multiple angles.
As one organizer put it quietly:
“No good deed goes unnoticed.”
A New Direction: Churches Choose to Refocus
Rather than engage in ongoing controversy, the churches stepped back from the parade entirely and chose to pour their time, resources, and love into something else — something that could not be taken away or reinterpreted:
The Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration.
The Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration.
More than a dozen churches united to host a downtown Christmas gathering centered on worship, fellowship, the Gospel cake, and compassion for others. Proceeds from handmade ornaments helped victims of Hurricane Helene, and families from across the region came together in unity.
With the 2025 celebration now expanding into the Passport of Joy experience — a global, hands-on journey for kids — the churches say their mission remains unchanged:
celebrating the birth of Jesus and blessing the community.
celebrating the birth of Jesus and blessing the community.
Looking Ahead
This year, Cookeville will not have a city-sponsored Christmas parade.
But while the parade is paused, the message of Christmas is not.
Where there was conflict, the churches found purpose.
Where there was controversy, they chose service.
And where a parade once stood, a growing, Christ-centered celebration has taken root.
Where there was controversy, they chose service.
And where a parade once stood, a growing, Christ-centered celebration has taken root.
As one organizer shared:
“We just kept our eyes on Jesus.”
EDITOR’S NOTE
Some may disagree with this coverage, and past experience tells us that not every response will be kind or accurate. If a few keyboard warriors decide to chime in, we understand — that’s simply part of the digital world we live in today.
Even so, we remain focused on truth, transparency, and extending grace — keeping our attention on community and Christ at the center of it all.
Merry CHRISTmas to all.
