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Sun Bowl Association Excited for 80th Installation of the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade on Thanksgiving Day August 17, 2016

EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union are excited to announce the theme of the 80th annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade. This year attendants will have the chance to watch the parade themed “80 Years Around the World.”

Those interested in submitting an entry for a float should create their theme around a historical or monumental event from the past 80 years and will need to fill out and turn in a 2016 Float Packet to Sun Bowl Special Events Director Joe Daubach. The Float Packet can be found online at www.sunbowl.org and all forms can be emailed to Daubach at joe@sunbowl.org. The deadline to submit an application to enter a float is Sept. 8.

Any additional organizations interested in taking part in the parade can also download the applications from the Sun Bowl website. Categories that can participate in the parade are marching bands, JROTC units and specialty units. The deadline to submit an application for a marching band or specialty unit is Oct. 16.

“This year marks the 80th time this parade will flow down the streets of El Paso in what has become a city and family tradition,” said CEO/President of FirstLight Federal Credit Union Karl Murphy. “We invite everyone who can to join in the parade and hope that this evolves into the best parade to date.”

Held on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 24, the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is the city’s largest attended event and is celebrating 80 years of parades. The annual event includes more than 100 different units including floats, marching bands, dignitaries, the Sun Court, as well as a various other specialty units such as Mexican-Indian dancers and military units.

“This is a special event that everyone in El Paso has enjoyed each and every year for the past 80 years,” Sun Bowl Association Executive Director said. “So many people are involved in putting this together, which shows the community we have here, and it’s always a great sight when over 250,000 people line the sidewalks Montana Avenue.”

The parade route runs on Montana Avenue from Ochoa to Copia. Tickets to sit in the review stands, located on Montana Avenue adjacent to the First Baptist Church, can be purchased beginning October at FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches, Circle K locations and the Sun Bowl Association office.

The parade is televised locally on the NBC affiliate, KTSM Channel 9.

For more information or questions about unit entry call 915-533-4416.

Parade History: The El Paso Downtown Lions Club organized the Parade in 1935. The parade was held on New Year’s Day from 1936 until 1978 when the event was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day. The holiday pageant is planned, coordinated and produced by volunteer efforts and draws an annual crowd of over 250,000 spectators. The Sun Bowl Parade is the largest community event in the west Texas, New Mexico and Mexico area and brings together service clubs and civic organizations as well as all sectors of business and industries within the community.

What: FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade
Theme: “80 Years Around the World”
When: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016
Start Time: 10 a.m. (MT)
Where: Montana Ave. from Ochoa to Copia

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