The Karns Christmas Parade took place last Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 9 a.m, and this year, it was one of the most successful parades our community has ever had. The parade happens every year, and it’s an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate Christmas, but not just with their families. The parade is open for anyone who lives in the Karns community, and is especially fun for kids and the younger people in the community, because there is always candy being thrown out everywhere you look.

The Karns Fair Community Board advertises and organizes the parade. They post on social media, hang fliers in the school, put out yard signs, etc. Brent Howell is a part of the board, and he, along with the other members of the board, try their best to make the parade as entertaining as they can for the parade watchers each year.

“I loved getting to see how excited the kids were to see the parade,” said Stella Montgomery, a sophomore cheerleader who was a part of the parade, “I saw so many eyes light up when we threw the candy to them.”

Montgomery loved contributing to the fair by doing her job as a Karns cheerleader, but her favorite part of the parade was when she saw the kids’ faces when they saw all of the attributes to the parade.

“I loved seeing people from the school and everyone dressed up,” said Kamarin May, a sophomore who watched the parade, “It’s a tradition in my family to wake up early and watch the parade every year.”

It definitely puts people in a good mood when they contribute to things that benefit their community, but the most important aspect is that the people who attend are entertained throughout the parade.

“The success of the annual Karns Christmas parade is due to the commitment of several groups to create a great event,” Brent Howell said, “The fair board is made up of just five volunteer members and Karns residents who work year-round on their events.”

The parade is 1.3 miles long, which is the longest-running community fair in Tennessee at 72 years this past July. The Knox County Sheriff’s office closed Oak Ridge Highway for a full hour and a half and escorted the parade’s start.

The parade consisted of many various Karns High School sports, including cheer, baseball, football, dance, etc, along with Karns Middle School sports as well.

If you have never attended the parade, don’t keep putting it off and just show up. The Karns parade is an event where you can get out into your community, receive a lot of candy, and get into the Christmas spirit.