Parks and Recreation spotlights upcoming holiday events

The holidays are drawing near, which means Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation is preparing for a variety of community events, and Program Coordinators Pam Rudd and Jacob Gibson appeared on WHOP to talk about it all.

Friday is Halloween, and trick-or-treaters are invited to downtown Hopkinsville from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to show off their costumes and get some goodies and candies from local businesses and organizations. South Main Street will be closed from East 13th Street to East 6th Street and all through street in between will be blocked.

Rudd says they are set to have around 50 vendors and have extended the trick-or-treating route to portions of East Ninth Street.

Then on Thanksgiving, the 24th annual Turkey Trot will be taking over downtown Hopkinsville at 8 a.m. and community members are invited to run, walk or ride a bicycle. Last year, Gibson says they had between 1,500 to 2,000 participants.

The run is free to attend unless folks want a souvenir T-shirt, and Gibson encourages folks to preregister at hoptownrec.com to give them an idea of how many people will be participating.

Then not too long after, Parks and Recreation will be back in the downtown area hosting their annual Nighttime Christmas Parade on December 13. This year’s theme is “Christmas Vacation” and soon to be retired Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority President and CEO Derrick Watson will be the Grand Marshal.

Rudd says groups still have time to register a float in the parade and even have the chance to win prizes

Then following the parade, folks are invited to Founder’s Square for the Christmas tree lighting.