The glow of Christmas can be found not just in a eyes of one young or young at heart, but in all of the upcoming parades and festivals throughout the area ushering in the holiday season.
Addison
The Town of Addison will be all aglow with a parade and Christmas in the Park, which will be a showcase for a variety of holiday activities, noted Town Clerk Cindy Luker.
The Addison Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 14, with line up at 4 p.m. at Addison First Baptist Church, located off of Highway 278 East. The parade will start at 5 p.m.
Christmas in the Park, located at Alexander Park off County Road 41 North, will take place from 4-7 p.m. the same evening, Luker stated.
Christmas in the Park will feature a petting zoo provided by Talley-Ho Farms, with smaller children enjoying the cow car train, which will travel in the ball field area.
The town will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks--with all activities at Christmas in the Park free
of charge, town officials emphasized.
Local churches will provide cookies and snack cakes, with one of the local businesses also providing hot chocolate, organizers added.
Creating more holiday magic at the park will be Santa and Mrs. Claus. Mayor Marsha Pigg will also provide a small train for rides for adults and children on the walking trail, illuminated with colorful holiday lights, Luker explained.
“We’ve seen up to 500 people before,” recalled Luker. “Come out and join us for a wonderful Christmas experience.”
Arley
The Town of Arley will keep its holiday tradition with its parade, sponsored by the Arley Women’s Club, on the first Wednesday of the month, which this year will be December 4, at 5 p.m., with line-up at 4 p.m., in the parking lot of the Dollar General on County Road 41 South, noted town clerk Tammi Farley.
Plans are for the town to erect a Christmas tree in front of Town Hall for the community to decorate, Farley added.
The parade will travel on County Road 41 North, turning onto County Road 77 and ending at Hamner Park near the fire department, Arley Police Chief Jerry Cummings stated.
“We have a really big Christmas parade every year,” Cummings stated. “It seems like it’s getting bigger and bigger every year.
“We have a good parade for all ages of kids,” Cummings added.
“All the kids come out and see Santa Claus, enjoy themselves and have a good time,” he added.
After the parade, the public will gather to meet and have pictures made with Santa Claus at the Meek Elementary School gym, also sponsored by the Arley Women’s Club, organizers said.
“Everyone be safe, have a good Christmas and enjoy yourself,” Cummings concluded.
Bear Creek
The Town of Bear Creek will celebrate Santa and its Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, with line-up at 4:30 p.m. at the parking area near the Phillips High School football stadium, with the parade rolling out at 5 p.m., noted Mayor Rob Taylor.
Depending on the length of parade, the parade will start out crossing the railroad tracks onto Highway 13, traveling to a right turn onto Virginia Avenue and going to Sprygler Street, Taylor noted.
“From there, if it is a large parade, we may go on out to Highway 172, go back down to Georgia Street, go back down into town, then go down Main Street, go back out on (Highway) 13 and back up to the school,” Taylor pointed out.
After the parade, Santa Claus will be available for pictures at the now-former municipal building on Main Street, thanks to efforts by the Bear Creek Civitan Club.
Double Springs
The Town of Double Springs will have its Christmas parade, sponsored by the Panorama Study Club, on Monday, Dec. 2, with line-up at 5:30 p.m. at the Double Springs Elementary School parking lot, the and parade beginning at 6 p.m., noted Police Chief Andy Tucker.
The parade will travel Highway 195 south into downtown Double Springs to a right turn onto Blake Drive, where it will make the loop back to 195, Tucker explained.
Parade safety emphasized
Tucker noted that some people have a misconception of when the Christmas parade ends, with children running out into the street to gather candy thrown out after the parade makes its first pass, Tucker emphasized.
“Everybody watch the traffic. When the end of the parade passes the courthouse, it’s going to loop back around,” Tucker stressed.
“If you try to leave before the parade loops back around, you will get caught in all of that traffic and you run the risk of running over somebody,” Tucker pointed out.
“So if they could just wait until the parade passes back to the elementary school, that would help us out a lot,” he added. “Be aware that kids are running around all over and really watch.
“We want everybody to be on their toes and watch for kids,” Tucker said.
Christmas events at Double Springs Community Center
After the parade, everyone is welcome to head to the Double Springs Community Center on Highway 278 East for a visit and pictures with Santa Claus, also sponsored by the Panorama Study Club.
Behind the community center, the public can also enjoy Christmas lights at the Mike Gilbreath Memorial Park, sponsored by the Double Springs Study Club, which will also provide refreshments inside the center, according to Crystal Till, a member of both the Panorama and Double Springs Study Club.
“Each year, the Christmas parade and Christmas in the Park kick off the holiday season for the Town of Double Springs and surrounding communities,” Till stated. “Both clubs and Community Unity enjoy being a part of that, along with the Town of Double Springs.”
Haleyville
The City of Haleyville will have its Christmas parade as the grand finale to its annual Christmas in the City festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, noted members of the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the festival and parade each year.
Line-up for the parade will be at 5 p.m. at Haleyville City Schools on 20th Street, with the parade starting at 5:30 p.m. traveling along 20th Street to pick up the Haleyville High School band and any groups walking in the parade at the area of CVS, noted Chamber Member Natalie Boykin.
There is no parade sign up, Boykin noted. “Just show up and get in line,” she said.
“If you are on a horse, the horses are at the last of the parade,” Boykin emphasized.
The parade will go around the downtown area, with entries encouraged to display lots of holiday lights, decorations and cheer, Boykin emphasized.
“We want lots of lights,” she noted.
Lynn
The Town of Lynn’s Christmas parade and activities will be on Monday, Dec. 9, starting at 5 p.m., with pictures made with Santa Claus at the town’s Christmas tree outside Lynn Town Hall, noted Town Clerk Marcia Manasco.
Refreshments will be available at the former Town Hall building on Main Street, with drawings held both before and after the parade for various gift items, based on tickets given out to the public, Manasco said.
Parade line-up is at 6 p.m. behind the Lynn Schools lunchroom, with the parade starting at 7 p.m., traveling along East Main Street, crossing Highway 5 at the former Traders & Farmers Bank building, going to Peaceful Acres Road, back across Highway 5 and taking Long Street back to the school, Manasco explained.
“We will make sure the highway is blocked and that everything is clear,” Manasco emphasized.
“We will have a Christmas float contest,” Manasco noted. “First place will be $100. Second place will be $75. Third place will be $50, and fourth place will be $25.”
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