If you’ve lived in Atlanta as long as I have (two decades), you know that Lavista Road, aka SR 236, is a little two-lane highway that packs a lot of punch. So when Dekalb County shuts it down, it’s a big deal. And that’s exactly what the county has been doing for close to 30 years, in celebration of the city’s Purim Parade & Festival.
Hosted by Beth Jacob, the parade features decorated festive floats and costumed revelers marching down the middle of SR 236 singing and dancing to the music, handing out treats and prizes, and waving signs and banners.
Hundreds of families line the street and watch the parade, and then head toward the Beth Jacob campus for a massive festival, with mechanical and blow-up rides and games, photo booth, kiddy train, petting zoo and pony rides, food trucks, and more. Parents who fondly recall watching the parade as kids join the festivities with their own kids, and the tradition continues with the next generation.
The 2020 Purim Parade & Festival honored local Dekalb safety officials, with Chief Lumpkin leading the parade as marshal, and addressing the crowd briefly at the end of the parade. The parade is all-inclusive, with a special designated quiet area for Friendship Circle participants, and no-wait bracelets for those who have difficulty waiting in lines.
This year’s parade is very exciting for the community, as most families are just starting to get back out to socializing after a long few years of COVID restrictions. To help keep everyone healthy, all festival activities have been moved outdoors, utilizing the front, back, and side lots of Beth Jacob’s campus, including near the Atlanta Scholars Kollel and Temima High School parking lot.
Get online and pre-purchase tickets to avoid the lines, and then mark your calendar – Sunday, March 13, 11:00am parade, 11:45 – 3:00pm festival. Look for the signs, flags, and rides and join us as we begin our third decade of celebrating with the community. We’re getting in the spirit of the month of Adar, when things are turned upside down, and we have the county’s full support to walk down a state route dressed as Queen Esther.
The parade and festival is made possible by generous local sponsors, including Kroger Corporation and Publix Charities, as well as Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Calibre Woods, Siegel Insurance, Aqua Tots, Green Orthodontics, Toco Printing, Urgent Care of Druid Hills, On Target Pediatric Therapy, Topplin’ Tots, Cotton Cravings.
Check out these fun albums from Atlanta’s 2018 PP&F, 2019 PP&F, and 2020 PP&F and see if you can spot anyone you know!
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