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Christmas parade brings cheer, cash to local businesses

Posted at 7:44 PM, Dec 01, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-01 22:06:55-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) — It is no surprise that the 2012 Dominion Christmas Parade from the Science Museum featured fancy floats and marching bands. But often overlooked is the economic impact the parade brings to the downtown

“I think it brings a lot of economic impact you get a hundred thousand people into our city they come from all over Virginia,” Robert Kelley, Chairman of the parade, told CBS 6.

While no official numbers are kept, Kelly says the parade operates with a budget of about $250,000 dollars annually.

“I mean a hundred thousand people on Broad Street that doesn’t happen ever — it is the largest single day event in the City of Richmond,” Kelly says. 

While most of the crowd is local, many travel from out of down – seeking places to stay and eat.

“I started getting rushed about 730 am and then it was pretty insane in here from about 8 to 10 am,” Nikki Berger, a server with City Diner, said.

Apart from restaurants, businesses benefited from the uptick in traffic as well.

Charities that sold items along the route, benefited as well.

Kelley says the parade is only possible because the City of Richmond does not charge for the use of its police force.