For Immediate Release

Norwich’s 2023 Winterfest Light Parade Grand Marshal Announced

Norwich, Connecticut - October 19, 2023 - Norwich resident Lashawn Cunningham has been
chosen as the 2023 Norwich Winterfest Light Parade Grand Marshal. She is a 2003 Graduate of
the Norwich Free Academy and works for Norwich Public Schools. Ms Cunningham gives back
to the community in a big way. She is a licensed foster parent through the Waterford Country
School, the founder and Director of Blooming into Greatness a nonprofit youth program
dedicated to providing free programming, to marginalized and underserved youth in the Norwich
community. The program’s focus is mentorship, performing and creative arts.
Lashawn is a board member at Norwich Arts Center, received the 2016 Norwich NAACP
Robertsine Duncan Youth Council President award which is given each year to an individual or
organization for outstanding efforts to ensure equity for children while being a community
advocate. She was also a 2021 awardee of the 100 Women of Color which recognizes the
contributions women of color have made to the lives of people throughout the State of
Connecticut and Western Massachusetts communities.

The 2023 Winterfest Light Parade will be held on December 2nd at 6PM in Downtown Norwich.
Now that the parade is an evening light parade there will no longer be a theme to allow for
organizations to purchase more lights yearly instead of having to decorate to a theme. Parade
participant’s entry deadline is November 26th, more information and online application is
available online at www.gonorwichct.org  or on our Facebook page under events:
www.facebook.com/GoNorwichCT

This year’s Downtown Window Decorating contest will be themed “The Twelve Days of
Christmas”. If you have a Downtown Business and wish to participate, please email
Erin@GoNorwichCT.com

The Parade is organized and funded by Norwich Events Organization which is a private 501(c)3
all volunteer nonprofit. It remains dependent upon local business and individual sponsors. If
you wish to sponsor this event as well as the others that Norwich Events produces for the City
of Norwich, please visit www.GoNorwichCT.com for more information.
——————
Event Contact:
Erin Challinor
Erin@GoNorwichCT@gmail.com  
860-303-8476