Bed Races and Hometown Christmas Parade Will Kick-off 2014 Hometown Holiday Celebration

The word “bedroll” will take on a whole new meaning on Friday, November 21 in Historic Downtown Mocksville as intrepid teams from across Davie County and beyond take part in the 3rd annual “Twas the Night Before” Bed Race.

The zany competition is a warmup for the main event: the annual Hometown Christmas Parade to be held the next day starting at 2:00 PM.

New This Year ~ Kids Character Maze Kids can join the fun this year with the Kids Character Maze.  Kids between the ages of 5 and 9, dressed in your favorite character costume, need to check in at the registration desk by 6 PM.  A $1 registration fee will be donated to “Shop with a Cop” and the first 0 to register will receive a free goodie bag.

Exactly How Does a Bed Race Work? Like any sprint, the goal of the Bed Race is to go from point A to point B in the shortest time possible—but these recumbent racers do have to follow a few basic rules in order to compete for the bevy of cash prizes. Each team consists of four pushers and one rider, all at least 15-years-old, and the rider must sit or lie flat on the bed during the race. Themed clothing or costumes are strongly encouraged, even pajamas are great, but riders have to wear something. Beds must have four wheels that stay in contact with the road at all times, and the only source of propulsion allowed is the four pushers. Oh, and you won’t be seeing any King Louis beds careening down the 485-foot stretch of Main Street that runs from Depot to Gaither: beds must measure least 3′ x 6′ but can be no larger than 6′ x 8′ including any handles the pushers might use. (Teams need to be lined up no later than 6:00 PM for a pre-race inspection.)

At stake are prizes for speed and creativity. The fastest team will take home a cool $100 in cash, while the runner-up will collect $75 and the third-place finisher will roll away with $50. The Most Outrageous and Most Creative teams will each pick up a $50 prize, and the slowest team also gets $50. Download your 2014 Bed Race Packet and register today!

Hometown Christmas Parade ~ “Winter Wonderland”
For those who want to join in on the holiday celebration but at a little slower pace, the Hometown Christmas Parade sponsored by the Davie County Chamber of Commerce is just the ticket. This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland,” and all types of entries are welcome, from horseback riders and single vehicles to full-blown floats featuring performers and folks walking in a group. The first-place prize for the parade participants is $75; second place wins $50 and third place earns $25. There are a couple of tips you should keep in mind as you prepare your parade entry. Candy can be tossed to the crowd (so long as you don’t entice children into the street where they might be hurt by the procession), but Santas are not allowed. He’s already slated to appear on the Chamber of Commerce float, and someone who’s as busy as Saint Nick is at this time of year doesn’t want to overbook! The registration fee for the Bed Race is $25.  This entry fee also entitles you to an entry in the hometown Christmas Parade the next day.

Don’t Miss Out ~ Registration Deadline November 17
But if you snooze you’ll lose—the deadline for applications for the Bed Race and the Hometown Christmas Parade is November 17. You can sign up your team for the Bed Race by calling Mocksville Town Hall at 753-6700 or mailing a bed race entry form (along with a check payable to Historic Davie, Inc.) to 171 Clement St., Mocksville, 27028. Parade participants can download the 2014 parade entry form or pick up a copy at the Davie County Chamber of Commerce at 135 South Salisbury Street.

Resources:
Bed Race Entry Form
Parade Entry Form
Town of Mocksville
Davie County Chamber of Commerce