It has been held every year since except in 1963 when the event was canceled following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy . In the early 1960s , the station commissioned Merv Griffin to produce a song especially for the parade . The " Christmas City Song " has been used for the parade every year and also has been the closing music for all KBJR newscasts from Thanksgiving until Christmas
assassination
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
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