Hartselle Christmas Parade set for Dec. 4

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s annual Christmas Parade will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. under the sponsorship and direction of Hartselle Kiwanis Club.
The event will feature the official arrival of Santa. He will greet crowds of onlookers while riding atop the city’s No. 1 fire truck. Volunteer helpers will accompany him, bearing candy treats for distribution to children. Other parade units will include marching bands, amateur floats competing for cash prices and antique cars and tractors.
The parade will follow its usual route, commencing in the J.P. Cain Stadium parking lot and concluding in the old Wal-Mart parking lot. Parade viewing will be best on Railroad Street from Hickory to Main and on Main Street from Railroad to Corsbie. A sidewalk section in front of The Depot will be marked off and reserved for special needs children and their families.
Leading out as grand marshal will be members of Hartselle’s 7-8 Dixie Darlings softball all-star team, winners of the 2008 Dixie World Series.
All entries in the parade are eligible to be judged for cash prizes totaling $500 in the “Amateur Floats” category, according to Tom Sparks, parade coordinator. However, emphasis will be placed on floats that are handmade and in keeping with the parade theme, “Storybook Christmas.”
All entries must be registered at the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce office on Railroad Streets. Application forms may be picked up, filled out and turned in at the chamber office prior to the parade date. The entry fee is $15. A $10 per truck or trailer fee is changed for horses and riders.