By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

On Saturday, members of the community and the county will gather in historic downtown Selma for fun and to kick off the holiday season.

The city will hold its annual Selma-Dallas County Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. The parade will proceed north on Broad Street starting at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and end on Furniss Avenue.

Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said the parade is designed to bring all members of the community together and begin the holiday celebration.

“This is just a community-wide event to help kick off the holiday season here in our community,” Smedley said. “This is a fun-filled event for the young and the young at heart.”

While registration to be in the parade has ended, Smedley said there are over 70 registered participants, including local fraternities, churches and businesses.

Smedley added that all the elected county and city officials will participate, as well as community groups and organizations from schools around the area.

“All of our area high school marching bands including Selma High School, Southside, Keith, Dallas County High School, will participate,” Smedley said. “Student organizations will participate, such as cheerleaders and the Selma High ROTC Club will actually lead the parade out this year.”

The Selma Police Department will assist with traffic along the parade route and the Selma Fire Department will also be involved in the parade festivities.

Smedley said there will be other activities going on around Broad Street during and after the parade, including a visit from the representative of Alabama’s 7th District.

“Congresswoman (Terri) Sewell will be at the Coffee Shoppe after the parade to meet the citizens,” Smedley said.

“Carter Drug Store is going to have Santa Claus from 10 a.m. to noon and Santa will be at Pettway’s Party Stop from noon to 2 p.m.”

For more information on the Christmas Parade call the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce at 875-7241.