11/09/2026
Statement from the Town of Coats Regarding the Christmas Parade and Community Celebration
The Town of Coats has seen the recent public statements regarding this year's Christmas events and believes it is important that our citizens have accurate information about the circumstances surrounding this year's celebration and the Town's involvement.
First, we want to acknowledge and respect the years of effort, dedication, and volunteer service that individuals have contributed to Christmas celebrations in our community. We recognize that these events have meant a great deal to Coats families, local businesses, and the community as a whole. Our intention is not to diminish those contributions, but to clarify the circumstances surrounding this year's event.
The Town of Coats did not take the Christmas event away from the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber made the decision to cancel its Christmas event and formally communicated that decision to the Town the afternoon of November 3rd. Faced with the possibility that our community would not have a Christmas parade or celebration this year, the Town stepped forward and agreed to take on the responsibility of organizing an event for December 1st. We believe our citizens, families, and children deserve the opportunity to continue enjoying this community tradition.
This was not a transition that came with months of preparation. Town staff have been working diligently with very limited time, resources, and manpower to coordinate the many moving parts necessary to make a December 1st celebration possible. From organizing parade participants and coordinating vendors and sponsors to addressing logistics, safety requirements, and event preparations, staff have done everything within their means to make this event happen. While we recognize that this year's celebration may look different from years past, we are making every effort to bring our community together and preserve this tradition with the time and resources available.
Second, the requirements referenced in recent statements were not arbitrary restrictions imposed by the Town. They involve requirements established by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for road closures and parades, as well as Harnett County mass gathering requirements.
These requirements exist for important reasons, including public safety, traffic management, and compliance with applicable regulations. They are not optional, and the Town has a responsibility to ensure that public events are conducted safely and in accordance with those requirements. Decisions regarding the structure and details of this year's event were made after consideration of the circumstances, the limited time available, applicable regulations, and the Town's responsibility to the public.
Fulfilling these responsibilities should not be mistaken for creating unnecessary obstacles or making it impossible for an organization to hold an event. Our responsibility is to ensure that community events are conducted appropriately, safely, and in compliance with applicable requirements.
Third, we want to address the suggestion that citizens should separate their support for local businesses and the Chamber from this disagreement. We wholeheartedly agree that our local businesses deserve continued support. The Town has no desire to see any local business, organization, or individual suffer because of a disagreement over event management. Supporting our local businesses and correcting inaccurate statements about the Town are not mutually exclusive.
We believe it is important to correct the impression that the Town displaced an organization or individual or created restrictions simply to make managing the event difficult. That is not an accurate representation of the circumstances.
Most importantly, we want to make clear that the Town is not interested in closing the door on continued collaboration with the Chamber. We welcome the Chamber of Commerce to participate in this year's parade and would genuinely love to see the winners of the Chamber's Banquet recognized and represented in the parade, should those individuals wish to participate.
We recognize the Chamber's history and contributions to Coats, and we believe there is still an opportunity to work together. Our focus is on finding a path forward that benefits the entire community rather than allowing disagreements over this year's circumstances to create lasting division.
The Chamber and its executive board made the decision not to move forward with this year's event. The Town stepped forward with the intention of keeping a beloved Christmas tradition alive for the people of Coats. We are not interested in creating division, engaging in personal disputes, or placing blame. However, our citizens deserve to understand the difference between a Town taking something away from an organization or individual and a Town stepping forward when that organization decides it can no longer manage an event.
The Town of Coats will continue to make decisions based on the best interests of our citizens, public safety, responsible governance, and the future of our community.
We encourage everyone to continue shopping locally, supporting our restaurants, patronizing our small businesses, and participating in community events. We hope the Chamber, its board, its members, local businesses, community organizations, and residents will join us in making December 1st a wonderful evening for Coats.
We love Coats, we believe in Coats, and we remain committed to working together to make our community a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.
Town of Coats
