Middleburg business owners overwhelmingly prefer a return to a two-parade format for the town's Christmas in Middleburg celebration according to a survey, conducted by Punkin Lee of the Middleburg Business and Professional Association.

Middleburg Town Councilmember Kathy Jo Shea, who serves as the town's official representative to a newly constituted "Christmas in Middleburg" working committee reported that "nearly every business in Town participated in the survey."

If the independent non-profit that runs the annual event concurs, the 2011 celebrations will feature the traditional parade of the Middleburg Hunt in the morning, with an afternoon parade highlighting the arrival of Santa, with bands, floats and marching units. Decisions about when each parade would start and finish are still under discussion.

A formal memorandum of understanding with the independent non profit that actually funds and runs the parade is also being drafted, outlining specific duties and responsibilities for all the stakeholders, public and private, in the annual event.

According to Shea, the working group also hopes to see an expansion of the all-day celebration into something resembling a Christmas Festival, with activities for adults and children all around the town.

Vice Mayor Kirk suggested the Committee might well keep in mind that holding two parades would cost more, especialy in terms of police time. She also noted that the Virginia Department of Transportation, which actually owns the streets of Middleburg, tended not to like closing US Route 50, Middleburg's main street, twice in one day.

Discussions continue.