Hartselle Christmas parade unfolds Friday
The glitter and excitement of the Christmas season will be highlighted in Hartselle Friday evening as Hartselle’s annual Christmas Parade unfolds for public viewing on Railroad, Main and Corsbie Streets.
Sponsored by Kiwanians, the popular event will start at 7 p.m. and will feature the appearance of Santa Claus riding atop the city’s No. 1 fire engine. He will be accompanied by volunteer helpers, bearing sacks of candy treats for distribution to children along the parade route.
Some 60 to 70 other units will participate in the parade, according to Hartselle Police Capt. Tom Sparks, parade coordinator. They will include the Hartselle Junior High and Hartselle High marching bands, emergency response vehicles, antique cars and tractors and commercial and amateur floats.
Amateur floats will be competing for $500 in prize money.
The parade will follow its usual route, commencing in the parking lot at J.P. Cain Stadium and disbanding in the old Wal-Mart packing lot on Highway 31, South.
Parade viewing will be at its best on Railroad Street, from Hickory to Main, and on Main Street from Railroad to Corsbie Street.
A sidewalk section in front of The Depot will be marked off and reserved for special needs children and their families.
The parade is customarily held on the first Thursday night in December but was moved forward one day this year to prevent a possible conflict with the Class 5A state championship football game in Auburn, which will be played Thursday night. Hartselle High’s Tigers contended for the 5A title until the semi-finals last Friday when they fell to Briarwood Christian.
