With the approach of a magical Christmas season, Hartselle and surrounding municipalities are making plans for their annual holiday festivities.

The Town of Falkville will take the lead with its annual Christmas in the Park.

Residents and friends will gather in the Jack McCaig Park on Sun., Dec. 1, at 4 p.m. for a traditional Christmas tree lighting. Sponsored by Community Pride, the program will feature a flag raising by local Scouts, prayer, music by the Falkville High School band and singing of Christmas carols led by David Halbrooks. Following the lighting of the park’s live Christmas tree, hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

The towns of Somerville, Priceville and Eva will follow with their annual Christmas parades on Sat., Dec.7.

Somerville’s parade will unfold at 11 a.m. under the sponsorship of the town’s Celebration Committee.

A pancake breakfast, beginning at 7 a.m., will precede the parade and a Christmas party for special needs children will be held in the Hilliard Long Community Center following the parade.

A new event will be a Christmas decorating contest involving community organizations using their creative touches to decorate the four fireplaces in the historic Somerville Courthouse. The courthouse will be open to the public.

The street parade will form on the courthouse square and will follow a path around the courthouse. It will feature handmade floats, antique cars and tractors, riders on horses and Santa bringing sweet treats for the kids.

Parade entry forms will be available at town hall through Dec. 4. There is no fee to enter.

Priceville’s Christmas Parade will follow at 2 p.m. It will feature Priceville High School’s marching band, handmade and professional floats, Priceville and Brewer JROTC units, antique cars and riders on horses. Float sponsors will compete for $225 in prize money.

Santa will arrive atop one of the town’s fire engines bringing candy treats for the kids.

The parade will form on North Bethel Road and proceed through residential neighborhoods as it works its way South before ending on Bethel Road.

There is no charge to enter the parade. Entry forms may be picked up at town hall or downloaded from the town’s website.

Eva’s Christmas parade will close out the day of parades at 6 p.m.

Sponsored by Eva Art Guild, it will form at 5 p.m. at the community center and will travel south through downtown and reverse it course and end at the starting point.

Featured attractions will include floats vying for cash prizes, Brewer High School marching band, antique cars, tractors and horses with riders. Santa will follow with candy treats for the kids and he will be available for photos with kids downtown after the parade.

Hartselle’s Kiwanis-sponsored Christmas parade will bring up the rear on Thurs., Dec 12, at 7 p.m.

Under the theme of “Hawaiian Christmas”, the parade will feature amateur floats competing for $500 in cash prizes, Hartselle High and Junior High marching bands, decorated antique cars and tractors and many other marching groups.

The parade will form at 5 p.m. at three different locations: J. P. Cain Stadium parking lot for all parade units except for pre-1988 motor vehicles and tractors, marching bands and walking groups. The J. C. Pettey Center parking lot for bands and marching groups, and the Russell Forest Products parking lot for pre-1988 motor vehicles, tractors and riders on horses.

Santa will arrive atop the City’s No. 1 fire engine. He will be accompanied by helpers distributing candy to kids.

The deadline for parade entries is Dec. 9. A fee of $15 is charged to non-profit sponsors and the fee for business and political groups is $30.

The parade will follow its usual course: South on Railroad Street, West on Main Street and South of Corsbie Street. It will disband at the old Walmart parking lot.

To enter, go online to www.hartsellekiwanisclub,org and fill out a parade entry form and return it with payment. The fee may also be paid at Hartselle Police Department. Hartselle Police Captain Tom Sparks is parade chairman.