DUMFRIES — Not one but two people will serve as grand marshals for the annual Dumfries Christmas Parade.
At its October 3 council town council meeting, Dumfries officials announced four nominees for the Christmas Parade Grand Marshall: Prince William County Potomac District Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, former town mayor Nancy West, President of Historic Dumfries Jeremiah Burns and Jimmy Vincent.
During the meeting, a motion was made to nominate a fifth candidate, former Dumfries Town Councilwoman Gwen Washington. The motion was seconded. Washington, who was present at the meeting, accepted the nomination.
After convening for a brief closed session, the council members returned with their verdict on the appointment of Grand Marshal. The motion was moved to appoint both Jeremiah Burns, of Jeremiah’s Kansas City Style Barbeque in Quantico, and Gwen Washington as the Grand Marshal’s for the 2018 Christmas parade. Washington has previous experience in the Grand Marshall role. This will be Burns first appointment. Mayor Derrick Wood said Burns’ active involvement in the community and respect as a retired Marine qualified him for this new role.
Wood said the town’s 44th annual Christmas parade will be held December 8 on Main Street. Wood says the parade route will begin at the Town Hall and proceed down Main Street, then onto Graham Park Road, past the Triangle Shopping Center and cross over northbound Route 1, through Dumfries Shopping Center where it will end.
Wood says the parade will offer music and lots of fun activities for the children from dance groups to various floats representing local businesses. Local elected officials and congressmen will also be present at the parade.
Wood said this year’s parade theme will be based on the Nutcracker.
