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Skateboarders To Join Mayor's Christmas Parade In Hampden

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It was supposed to happen just one time, but now, 42 years later, the Mayor's Christmas Parade in Hampden has become one of Baltimore's most popular traditions. It happens on Sunday.

WJZ's Ron Matz has what's new this year.

It's a holiday wish as only Hampden can make. The Mayor's Christmas Parade is something special.

This year, Stephanie Murdock of Skatepark of Baltimore will lead 100 other skateboarders in a Hampden first.

"For the first time, never been done, we are going to attempt to carry a giant balloon down the parade route on skateboards," said Murdock.

Buddy the skateboarding dog will be there, too.

"Every year we are in the parade the little kids just absolutely just... 'Dog on a skateboard!' They can't stop getting excited about it and I let them pet him and everything else. It's just a good time, it supports a great event," said Scott Frias, Buddy's owner.

You'll see a lot of vintage cars in the parade, including a 1964 Corvair.

There are 150 entries this year--a neighborhood coming together for the holidays.

"We'll have bands from all over including Virginia, Pennsylvania and of course great bands from Maryland," said Tom Kerr, chairman of the Mayor's Christmas Parade in Hampden.

It started in 1972 at the request of then-mayor William Donald Schaefer. Now, who could have imagined skateboarders carrying a float up Falls Road?

"A lot of people have asked me, 'How do you practice for that?' And I said, 'You don't.' So if you see us flying over the Jones Falls, wave, OK?" Murdock said.

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Falls Road and Cold Spring Lane. Meteorologists Tim Williams and Chelsea Ingram and Ron Matz will be riding in the parade again this year.

For more information on the event, CLICK HERE.

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