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Council, staff praise festival turnout; TAP/TDOT work may alter Christmas parade route
Summary
City officials said the downtown festival drew nearly 9,816 visitors this year and that survey respondents reported mostly positive sales results; ongoing TAP/TDOT downtown work may force barricades or earlier start times for the Dec. 6 Christmas parade.
Clinton officials praised the recent downtown festival and discussed how ongoing downtown construction may affect the December Christmas parade.
Catherine, who oversees tourism and events, reported festival attendance of 10,229 in 2024 and 9,816 in 2025 and said survey results from roughly 100 shoppers and vendors showed 78% of surveyed brick-and-mortar merchants said the festival met or exceeded sales expectations. One antique vendor reported being up 22.5% in sales compared with 2024. “We did do some surveys...78% of the brick and mortar…said that the festival met or exceeded their expectations for sales,” Catherine said.
Speakers thanked public works and volunteers for quick work on safety and street repairs during the event. Mayor Burton and council members praised staff coordination, naming public works and the police department in particular.
City staff provided an update on TAP grant and Tennessee Department of Transportation work on Market and Alleyway. Contractors are finishing conduit and irrigation sleeves for planters, but rain has pushed the schedule back an estimated week; that delay could affect the parade route and hours. Officials said the route could remain the same if work progresses as expected, but the city may need to add barricades or move the start time earlier to ensure adequate daylight and safety.
Council members asked whether merchants could be reimbursed for lost business during construction. City staff said the city’s legal guidance and MTAS attorneys referred to the public purpose doctrine in the Tennessee Constitution (Article II, Section 29), which precludes using public funds for general merchant reimbursement. “Essentially, any taxes we levied can only be spent on public good and…that’s not an allowable cost,” a staff member said.
The council also approved naming Bear Stevenson as grand marshal for the Christmas parade and concurred with the Anderson County Fair Association’s plan to build restrooms at JC Park (the association will fund construction; the city may provide in‑kind labor as needed).
