Easter parade planned

CLOVIS - This Easter Sunday there are few, if any, sitting in church pews. Despite the importance of the holiday to Christians around eastern New Mexico, church services have largely turned to an at-home exercise due to concerns on gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There will, however, be a celebration, and it shouldn't be hard to notice.

Any motorist is welcome to take part in the community Easter parade, with organizer Latriece Brooks noting it started when she asked her Facebook church group, "Wouldn't it be great if we could encircle the city?"

They'll attempt it starting at 1:30 p.m. today, with everybody asked to meet at the Mounted Patrol parking lot of the Curry County Fairgrounds.

At 2 p.m., the caravan will head west on Brady and turn north onto Prince Street. Once those vehicles turn right onto Mabry Drive, they'll start the first lap of seven around the city. The parade will travel east on Mabry, north on Humphrey Road, west on Wilhite road, south on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and back east onto Mabry.

After the first six laps are complete, the seventh lap will feature drivers honking as much as possible in non-residential areas. Brooks said the format was created as a reference to the Battle of Jericho in the Old Testament. The Israelites are said to have marched around the walls of Jericho for six days, followed by seven times on the seventh day and a blowing of their trumpets.

The seven-lap requirement could make for a lengthy event, with each lap approximately 15 miles.

Once the seventh lap is complete, vehicles will return to the meeting point, give one final honk and have a prayer before departing.

When Brooks first got encouragement for the idea, she said she sought the help of the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce to promote the event. Events Coordinator Kim Tipton said the Chamber was excited to help.

Despite the obvious logistical hurdles, Brooks is excited that a small idea could turn into such an important Easter message.

"I'm ecstatic," Brooks said. "I really had no idea it would come to fruition. I talked to a couple of people who said, 'It's a great idea, but I don't know how feasible it is.'"

The parade will feature more difficult execution than standard parades, which usually go along one main road that is specifically closed for the event. Parade participants are to follow all traffic laws and signs, not hang out of windows and practice no social gatherings.

Participants can decorate their cars however they want, but are encouraged to feature the U.S. flag as well as symbols of the Easter holiday.