Santa Claus is busy making plans to travel around Winston and Marion counties in the coming weeks, participating in local Christmas parades and holiday festivals.
Addison
The Town of Addison will celebrate Christmas in the Park and hold its holiday parade Saturday, Dec. 13, with Christmas in the Park from 4-7 p.m. noted Town Clerk Cindy Luker.
Alexander Park, located on County Road 41 North, will be illuminated with holiday lights that date, along with free food for the public, including hot dogs, chips and drinks.
“Local businesses al
ways provide coffee, hot chocolate, snack cakes, popcorn,” Luker said. “It’s all free of charge.”
A petting zoo provided by Talley-Ho Farms of Jones Chapel will also be set up at the park, where children can visit with small animals and a small train designed like a cow will transport children on a magical trip, which is also free of charge, Luker said.
The parade line up will be at 4 p.m. at the Stephenson Gym, located near Addison Elementary School on County Road 41, noted Police Chief Mitchell Woodard. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. and will end also at the Stephenson gym.
Woodard stressed in a previous article printed in the Alabamian, that the parade will take a different route this year, where plenty of public parking will still be available.
The parade will leave the gym, travel onto County Road 41 and go north toward the industrial park, Woodard explained.
The parade will then turn left off County Road 41 onto Hunter Road, the chief added. “When they clear that (area), we can open 41 back up,” he stated.
The parade will continue on Hunter Road, turn left on Margaret Street, then left onto Palmera Drive, left on McHann Road and go in front of Hyatt’s Grocery back to County Road 41, where it will turn left and go back to the gym, where the parade will end, Woodard continued.
The parade route changes were necessary so that Highway 278 would not have to be shut down and for better spectator safety, Woodard pointed out.
“Come out and enjoy all of the free festivities and the parade route,” Luker said. “People need to understand it’s a safety issue, and it will all work out.”
Arley
The town of Arley’s Christmas parade will be Wednesday, Dec. 3, with line-up beginning at 4 p.m. at the parking area of Dollar General and Smith Lake Vendor Market off County Road 41 South, according to the Arley Women’s Club, which is sponsoring the event.
The parade will begin at 5 p.m. and will travel County Road 41 through the town of Arley, taking a right on Helicon Road (County Road 77) and ending att Hamner Park, stressed Arley Police Chief Jerry Cummings.
Cummings is stressing some important safety rules for those participating in the parade.
“We don’t throw any candy over here because you can walk beside your floats and hand candy out to the kids. We cannot throw candy because it is a dangerous situation for the smaller kids,” Cummings emphasized. “You cannot throw candy. It will be a $500 fine.”
When candy is thrown, children often run out into the road to get the candy, which presents a major hazard, police indicated.
“That’s why it’s all about safety for the children,” said Cummings. “The kids, they see candy, they are going to go to it. Everything (in the parade) is still coming up the road, and the driver might not see the little kid going out there after that candy.”
The Christmas parade is usually the largest parade in the city, according to Cummings.
Those riding four-wheelers in the parade must have lights and wear helmets, the chief noted.
After the parade, the public is encouraged to go to the Meek Elementary School gym, where they can meet Santa and enjoy a complimentary soup supper provided by the Arley Women’s Club and local churches, organizers said.
Children can also select a free book sponsored by women’s club members.
Bear Creek
The Town of Bear Creek will have its Christmas parade Friday, Dec. 5, with line-up at 5:30 p.m. at the parking area of Phillips Schools and the parade rolling out at 6 p.m. noted organizer Melissa Taylor.
Those young and young-at-heart will get to see Santa riding on top of a fire truck, throwing out candy and giving everyone his hearty Ho Ho Ho.
Upon leaving Phillips Schools, the parade will turn onto Highway 13 and travel to Virginia Avenue, then to Sprygler Street, Grover Street behind the Bear Creek Community Center, to Main Street and turn back on Highway 13 and to Phillips Schools, where the parade will end, town officials said.
Police Chief Eddie Collins informed the public that Highway 13 would be briefly blocked two times by police while the parade travels by.
Collins stressed another major safety tip for spectators who line up along the roadways to watch the parade.
“Don’t let your kids run out in the road and grab candy because they will run out in front of a car,” Collins emphasized.
“We just hope that everybody comes out and supports us and enjoys the parade,” Taylor added.
Double Springs
The town of Double Springs will continue its tradition of having its Christmas parade on the first Monday of December, which this year falls on Dec. 1, stated Crystal Till, member of the Panorama Study Club, which sponsors the parade each year.
Line-up will begin at 5 p.m. at Double Springs Elementary School, with judging for the best floats beginning at 5:30 p.m., Till said.
The parade will be at 6 p.m. traveling through the downtown area, after which the public is invited to head over to the Double Springs Community Center, located off Highway 278, to visit with Santa and to have some snacks provided by the Double Springs Study Club, Till stated.
“The ladies of Panorama work really hard to make the Christmas parade a success every year,” Till said. “It is their desire that everyone come out, enjoy it and have a good time.”
The town’s Christmas tree lighting will not be a part of the parade, but was held this past Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. at the Winston County Courthouse, where the crowning of Queen Merry Christmas also took place, organizers said.
Haleyville
The City of Haleyville will celebrate its annual Christmas in the City festival, with the grand finale being the tree lighting and parade, on Saturday, Dec. 6, with a full schedule of activities, noted Natalie Boykin, member of the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the event.
Vendors wishing to participate in Christmas in the City need to go online to the Chamber of Commerce website, complete the application and return application and fees by December 1. Applications should be mailed to: Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 634, Haleyville, Ala.
35565, or contact Chamber members Mandy Little at Bristol Haughton Insurance, or Katie Tidwell at Haleyville City Hall, (205) 486-3121.
Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce members will receive one booth space free of charge, with all other arts, crafts and retail vendors at $50, church booth spaces at $25 and food vendor booth spaces at $75.
It should be noted that vendors preparing food on-site are classified as food vendors, with vendors selling pre-packaged food items considered arts, crafts or retail vendors, according to Chamber members.
On the day of the festival, vendors can begin setting up at 9 a.m. after checking in at the park behind Boxes of Dealz.
Vendor booths will open the day of festival at 12 p.m., with special live musical performances at the Heart of Haleyville Park on Main Street from 12-4 p.m., organizers said.
Children and adults alike are invited to make their own ornament from 12 p.m. at the Heart of Haleyville Park, where Santa himself will pay a special visit to children from 2-4 p.m.
A magical time for the area’s children will also be taking place at the Haleyville Public Library, located downtown, during Christmas in the City. From 12-2 p.m., children are invited to stop by and write their letters to Santa, fill a bag of magic reindeer food and receive special treat bags, sent straight from the North Pole!
The tree lighting at the Main Stage area of the park will be at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Christmas Parade through the streets of downtown at 5:30 p.m., organizers said.
Lynn
The Town of Lynn’s annual Christmas parade on Monday, Dec. 8, will be a time to give to those in need, noted Kris Gray, a member of Community B’s Ladies Auxiliary, which is sponsoring the event.
Parade line-up will be at 6 p.m., with the parade starting at 7 p.m., Gray noted.
Not only will children and the public alike get to meet and talk to Santa and Mrs. Claus in front of Lynn Town Hall at the town’s large Christmas tree, but a concession stand will also offer free foods in front of the old town hall location, also on Main Street, organizers said.
“We will have hot dogs and popcorn until we run out,” Gray said. Also available will be coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods, she added.
“We want the kids to come out and not have to spend any money to come to the parade and get something to eat,” Gray pointed out.
The parade will travel through downtown Lynn, with $100 given as a prize for the top float, $75 for second place, $50 for third place and $25 for fourth place, Gray said.
“We would like to encourage more to turn out for the parade because last year, we did not have a good turnout due to the weather,” Gray emphasized.
Door prizes will be given away near the concession stand area, with businesses and individuals currently donating items that will be used for gift baskets to be given away at the parade, as well as items to give to those in need through the auxiliary, Gray explained.
“Whatever we get donated to us for the parade, we will give away at the parade,” Gray stated. These donated items can include personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies and a variety of other items, she said.
“We try to make a nice necessity basket for their home, then we try to do a food basket to go with the necessity basket for any needy families we have in our area,” Gray said.
Plans are to have baskets for a man, woman, girl and boy ready to give away at the parade, with any extra items to be packaged into boxes or baskets for giveaways to needy families in separate drawings after the parade, she noted.
Those attending the parade will put their name on the ticket at the table in front of the old town hall, which will qualify them for the drawing, Gray said.
Those wishing to make donations for these giveaways can contact Gray at Lynn Town Hall (205) 893-5250, or drop off their donation sat the collection box at town hall, Gray explained.
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