Fall River's 24^th Annual Christmas Parade took off from Kennedy Park on December 6, 2008, and proceeded down South Main Street to Bank Street, ending at CD-REC where a holiday celebration was underway. “The [planning] Committee strived to maintain the traditional aspects of these events while adding new and fun surprises such as the holiday balloons and cartoon characters during the parade as well as holiday music and refreshments at Government Center," stated Mayor Correia prior to the event. In addition to participants pictured below, marchers included the Atlantis Charter School, Boys & Girls Club, Bristol County Sheriff's Department, Brownie Troop 1002, Cub Scout pack 50,  Fall River YouthBuild, Girl Scout troops 1076, 1003 and 1049, the Hills Mills Clown Band, Police Athletic League, and the Watson School in addition to bands from Somerset, Swansea and Tiverton. Event sponsors included Allied Waste, Bank of Fall River, Bank 5, Citizen’s Union, David Raymondo Real Estate/Century 21, Fall River Ford, First Bristol Corporation, Herald News, LaFrance Hospitality Company, Mayor Robert Correia, PRIMACare, Quality Inn of Somerset, Ron Rusin Real Estate, Saint Anne’s Credit Union, Tom Lyons, Venus de Milo Restaurant, and Webster Bank. Click here to see Arts & The Holidays, here to see the Heritage Holiday House and here to see the tree lighting ceremony. For more information, contact Director of Communications Inês Leite at 508-324-2600.
 

 (Top row, left) Members of the B.M.C. Durfee High School Peaceful Coalition hold down the 35' Frosty the Snowman balloon to get it under some wires at the start of the parade. (Top row, center) The parade winds its way up South Main Street. (Top row, right) Paul Santos, wearing a Cat in the Hat costume, greets people along the parade route. (Middle row, left) Three and a half-year-old Arianna and two-year-old sister Olivia pick up wrapped candy thrown by Fall River Police officers. (Middle row, right) Tom Codega sits with daughters Annie Codega and Eliza Rose along the parade route. (Bottom row, left) Parade-watchers observe the action in front of Government Center from the newly-completed balcony while bubbles float by. (Bottom row, center) Durfee High School football team members hold down one of the two 30' inflatable gingerbread twins along North Main Street. (Bottom row, right) Members of the B.M.C. Durfee High School marching band go past Government Center near the end of the parade route.