Smyrna celebrates 50th annual Christmas Parade with bands, community floats and Santa
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Summary
Mayor Mary Esther Reed and Stewart's Creek TV hosted Smyrna's fiftieth annual Christmas Parade, which featured grand marshal Chief Brian Goss, performances by local marching bands, community nonprofit floats, volunteer awards and a Santa send-off at Zalmar Park.
Smyrna marked its fiftieth annual Christmas Parade with civic leaders, local schools and community groups lining Lowther Street and concluding at Zalmar Park. "I'm Mayor Mary Esther Reed, and on behalf of the Town of Smyrna, I wanna welcome you to our fiftieth annual Smyrna Christmas Parade," Reed said in opening remarks, thanking volunteers, town employees and parade participants.
Students from Stewart's Creek High School and the student-run Stewart's Creek TV helped present the broadcast. "This is our golden anniversary," parade host Gracie Wayne said, introducing cohosts Rick Hall and Wayne Blair and framing the event as a community milestone.
Organizers named Smyrna's new fire chief, Brian Goss, the parade's grand marshal. Announcers summarized Goss's 42 years of fire service in Michigan and Tennessee and his experience as a chief in Brentwood, calling his selection a salute to long service in public safety.
Local marching bands and school ensembles were a central feature. Commentators noted the Stewart's Creek High School marching band drew particular attention, described in the broadcast as having "over 140 members" and recent competition wins.
Community nonprofits and businesses filled the route with floats and vehicles: the Nourish Food Bank collected food for Rutherford County families, senior-living centers and youth sports leagues marched in force, and service organizations such as the VFW and Shriners participated. The town's Parks and Recreation float honored Michael Fain as the 2025 Kenneth Kuhn Victory Lifetime Service Award recipient and recognized Kaley Herndon as the 2025 Young Leader of the Year, noting Herndon's reported 250 volunteer service hours in 2025.
The broadcast highlighted long-running local traditions and veterans of the parade, including a nearly 90-year-old Chevrolet truck driven by David and Ginny Williams that their family said had appeared in the parade for generations. Political candidates and civic officials also appeared on floats and walking sections of the route; announcers named several local public servants and candidates as they passed the cameras.
The parade culminated with Santa and Mrs. Claus riding aboard a Town of Smyrna fire engine. Hosts and Stewart's Creek TV closed the broadcast by thanking Mayor Reed, town staff and cohosts Rick Hall and Wayne Blair, and inviting the community to return for the 2026 parade.
No formal votes or official legislative actions were part of the broadcast; the program focused on community celebration, recognition of volunteers and local civic and nonprofit participation.