A year ago, anxiety was running high for Kristi Gooden, Tammi Schneiderman, Christy Mullen and Jodi Owens. As organizers of the inaugural Holidays in the Vue parade, their dream of bringing a memorable holiday experience to the Bellevue community was about to become a reality.
But what kind of reality? Would it be a boom or a bust? Like expectant mothers, they didn’t know what to expect. Like wedding planners, there were more things to do than time to do them.
One thing they knew for certain: it wouldn’t be a nightmare. Because you can’t have a nightmare if you’re not sleeping.
“You embark on an event like this, and you plan and prepare,” says Gooden. “We have a great partner in the Bellevue-Harpeth Chamber of Commerce to help us with critical infrastructure, like permitting. We had conversations with organizers of the Hendersonville parade, and they were more than kind in providing advice. But a month out, we were still securing sponsorships and recruiting volunteers. Until the event happens, you just don’t know.”
What transpired can only be described as an idyllic event. The day dawned with made-to-order weather: sunny skies, calm wind and seasonably pleasant temperatures. The parade unfolded with a blend of pageantry, energy and hometown charm that was on-point with the best the planners could have imagined.
When the first participants marched onto the parade route and the festivities were officially underway, the organizers’ eyes were awash with tears. “The four of us were on the radio saying, ‘it’s starting!’ says Gooden. “The energy was quite palpable. To see the parade come to life was quite amazing. Even as we were staging the entries, participants were telling us ‘Thank you.’ That’s when it really started to settle in that this was something that Bellevue wanted.”
Gooden says that planning for the Second Annual Holiday’s in the Vue parade (Saturday, December 6 at 10 a.m.) began as soon as the inaugural parade ended. “Literally, the steering committee gathered and said, ‘we’re doing this again,’” Gooden says. “Our presenting sponsor, Aaron Sullivan of Allegiance Pressure Washing, said he was going to renew as soon as the parade turned the corner (from Colice Jeanne Road) onto Highway 70.”
The committee gave away handheld “Belles” for Bellevue to spectators last year but quickly ran out. That won’t be a problem in 2025 as TriStar Bellevue ER has stepped up as sponsor. In fact, participating sponsors are up 20 percent over last year, plus in-kind sponsorships.
Gooden says a crowd of up to 4,000 is anticipated, plus up to 1,000 parade participants. That represents another increase over last year so expect the parade should run 10-15 minutes longer than last year’s half-hour.
Holidays in the Vue is a rain-or-shine event. Additional information, including a parade route map and volunteer portal, is available at HolidaysInTheVue.com.
Holidays in the Vue
Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 10 a.m.
Staging Area
Bellevue Middle School
Parade Route
North (left turn) on Colice Jeanne Rd. from Bellevue Middle School
West (left) on Highway 70 South
North (right) on Sawyer Brown Road
West (left) into One Bellevue Place at Eastbrook Drive