Due to an increased number of COVID-19 cases in West Tennessee, the Christmas Parade Committee has decided to postpone the annual City of Jackson Christmas parade until December 2021, according to a Friday afternoon news release from the City of Jackson. In its place, Mayor Scott Conger and Josh Robinson will host a virtual live concert from the Carl Perkins Civic Center with local artists singing your favorite Christmas songs.
This week, West Tennessee Healthcare showed a 36% increase in COVID hospitalizations, a 24% increase in COVID patients in ICU and a 50% increase of COVID patients on ventilators. Due to this, healthcare professionals and committee members expressed concern about crowd spacing along the parade route.
After a difficult discussion exploring all options, the committee decided transitioning to a televised and online Christmas concert was in the best interest of public health.
The Christmas concert will be livestreamed on December 7 and broadcast live on EPlusTV Six that evening. Guests will not be allowed to attend the event in-person. The theme is honoring frontline and essential workers. Local artists will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Other holiday activities hosted by the city include decorating the Christmas tree and the 2nd annual holiday business window-store decorating contest.
To help decorate the Christmas tree, residents are encouraged to bring an ornament to the city hall lobby before November 25.
The theme for the holiday business window-store decorating contest is “Christmas Love for Our Front Line and Essential Workers.” More information, rules and guidelines can be found at jacksontn.gov.