COOKEVILLE – WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS will ring in the holidays from the Putnam County Courthouse Square at the53rdCookeville-Putnam County Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. on WCTE and via stream at wcte.org. Join hosts Becky Magura, president & CEO of WCTE, and Zach Ledbetter, vice president of visitor development for the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau, along with Dr. Krystal Akehinmi, associate professor in the department of history at Tennessee Tech University, serving as the street correspondent. A new addition to this year’s parade includes featuring the “Dickens Carolers” from the Storyteller Theatre Company.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter is the chair of the parade again this year leading a committee who selected, “Christmas Movie Memories,” as the theme for the Christmas celebration. George Halford, Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber president/CEO, and his wife, Gloria, have been selected to serve as the grand marshals of the parade.
“WCTE has a merry and bright lineup of programming all throughout this holiday season, but we’re especially excited to feature the annual Cookeville-Putnam County Christmas Parade live from the Putnam County Courthouse Square. A one-hour “Christmas Parade Highlights” edited show will air on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 8 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 7 p.m. on WCTE,” said Brent Clark, WCTE’s director of content & digital media.
The parade will feature marching bands, dance routines, Christmas lights, local businesses and elected officials and, of course, Santa Claus, who all come together in one spectacular evening to celebrate this joyous holiday season. In case of cancelation due to inclement weather, the backup date of the parade and our live broadcast is Monday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
WCTE has served the Upper Cumberland for 40+ years as the region’s premier storyteller and is the only television station in a 75-mile radius of Cookeville. WCTE is a proud strategic partner with educators, health services, government, arts and music organizations across the Upper Cumberland. WCTE is a 501-(c)3 and is owned and operated by the Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council. WCTE is one of only 350 PBS member stations nationwide.
