Jasper, Ga. — Jasper opened its annual Night of Lights Parade with familiar scenes that residents expect each December. Families gathered along Main Street. Fire trucks wrapped strings of Christmas lights to the joy of small children and adults alike. Church groups and community organizations presented handmade floats that depicted the Nativity, classic holiday characters, and figures drawn from the theme “Your Favorite Christmas Movie.”
The procession shifted when a float from Paranoia Haunted House moved down the route. The float carried large demons with contorted limbs and flames that rose above the platform. Families later reported that children reacted with fear when the fire, skeleton figures, and anthropomorphic demons came into view. One grandmother wrote on Facebook, “Yeah, scared the grandchildren to death,” and other public posts described similar scenes as the float passed.
Screenshots of public posts showed grandparents, parents, and parade-goers describing confusion when the float appeared, an unorthodox follow-up to the earlier presented Nativity and classic Christmas films. Residents said the sequence created an abrupt change in tone and made it difficult for some families to reassure children who looked for beloved symbols of the season, like Snoopy, Santa, or even the Nightmare Before Christmas (which was well received by the audience).
These accounts circulated across multiple community groups and contributed to a broader discussion about parade planning, holiday expectations, and sensory considerations for families with neurodivergent children who wish to take part in the local parade downtown.
The Jasper Merchants Association, which organizes the parade, responded to questions from Now Habersham in a written statement. The group said the float’s appearance was consistent with past years and pointed to its long history of varied parade entries, which include hot rods, motorcycles, loud music, and flashing lights. The organization noted that this is the third year Paranoia has participated and that the majority of the feedback they receive is positive. The group also said that roughly 15 to 20 people have voiced concerns across several discussion threads, while hundreds of comments across those forums supported the parade and its entries.
However, when reviewing the Facebook thread that drew the most local attention, one sees a near-even divide. A post that condemned the float drew roughly 717 laughing reactions at the gentlemen who expressed concern, and 715 reactions that signaled approval of the criticism and anger with the display.
The Merchants Association detailed its mission as a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides free community events. The group said that it retains only three member businesses and relies on a small number of volunteers with decades of combined experience. It described the parade as an important tradition for Jasper and said it maintains content standards based on city rules regarding political messages and lewd displays. The board added that it does not serve as a gatekeeper.
After the parade, Paranoia Haunted House, located in Canton, posted a message that acknowledged the range of reactions to its appearance and noted that its float stood apart from the traditional themes in the lineup. The business described its participation in the Ball Ground and Jasper parades as part of its effort to join local holiday events. The post thanked those who supported the float.
This year’s parade featured 55 entries and more than 130 vehicles. Pre-parade festivities included music from local school choirs and vendor booths. Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted families on the courthouse lawn in a no-cost photo station.
Discussion continues across Jasper as residents consider the purpose and procedure of holiday events and how those events serve families with young children, people with sensory needs, and those who attend for traditional Christmas themes. Some residents support a broad range of entries and describe the parade as a forum for varied forms of community expression, even when that approach limits participation for people whose age or sensory profiles make significant stimuli — in this instance, pyrotechnics and demonic imagery — difficult to withstand.
Comments range from calls to protect childhood innocence, to statements from pagans who say Krampus reflects their religion, to adults who argue that parades are not only for children and should include content for them, to others who point to broader issues in the community, including homelessness, and condemnations from individuals accusing critics of being ‘holier than thou.’
Floats were judged, and the winners were:
The Merchants Association said it has not decided whether Paranoia Haunted House will return next year. The board plans to speak with the business owner and review community input before confirming plans for the 2026 parade. As residents continue to post their views, the discussion now reaches questions of tradition, expectation, and the design of community events that draw large crowds to Main Street each December and shape a sense of unity.
The debate for 2026 now turns to a single issue: do monsters and demons deserve a place in the fam?
