By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Billed as one of the largest Christmas parades in the state, the City of Gardendale’s annual parade is set for 6 p.m. Thursday.

The parade, sponsored by the Gardendale Chamber of Commerce, regularly draws an estimated crowd of 10,000 and features at least 100 floats.

This year’s theme is “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”

With Mickey Ferguson of Fox 6 serving as grand marshall, the parade will begin at the corner of Fieldstown and Mt. Olive roads.

The procession will travel down Fieldstown Road before taking a left on Grubbs Avenue. It will then turn right and travel through the parking lot of the Garden Shopping Center before taking a right on Main Street. The procession will then travel south on Main Street before ending back at Gardendale First Baptist Church.



Morris

Christmas festivities continue this weekend, with the City of Morris hosting its annual Christmas parade at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The staging area is at Mortimer Jordan High School at 8:30 a.m.

The $10 entry fee will help fund the city’s Families Helping Families Christmas program.

Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran said this is the second year that the city has hosted Families Helping Families.

The police department sponsors the event, but Cochran said the “ladies in the office” – town clerk Rachael Turner, magistrate Jessica Robb and assistant town clerk Rachael McCombs – are the ones who do much of the work.

The town selects one or more families and provides enough food for a holiday meal and Christmas gifts for the children.

To make donations to Families Helping Families or for questions about the parade, call Morris Town Hall at 647-0596.



Trafford

Another popular Christmas tradition is the annual parade in Trafford, which will be held on Dec. 13 at 1 p.m.

Parade organizer Pam Samuels said there will be some old faithfuls at the parade this year, including Ronald McDonald, antique cars, four-wheelers, Shriners and fire trucks.

Trafford traditionally has a long string of fire trucks. This year there will be trucks from Trafford, Locust Fork, Palmerdale, Morris, Kimberly, Warrior, Cane Creek, West Blount, Bagley, Dallas-Selfville, and a Blount EMS vehicle.

And of course, Santa Claus will be there.

The grand marshall for the parade will be lifelong Trafford resident Ruth Myrick.

Samuels said that Myrick “is always there for everybody. She’s like a staple in the town.”

There is no charge to enter Trafford’s parade.

Lineup will be at noon at Sanders Park on Sanders Park Road.

Following the parade, there will be food for sale at the community center. Also, Santa will be there to visit with the children.

For more information about the parade, call Samuels at 647-0778.



Kimberly

Following Trafford’s festivities, those in the holiday spirit can drive a few miles to Kimberly to see another parade.

Kimberly’s fourth annual Christmas parade is on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m., with line-up at Bryan Elementary School at 5 p.m.

There is no entry fee.

This year’s master of ceremonies is Circuit Judge Tommy Nail.

Mona Hendrix, who heads up the parade, said the Mortimer Jordan High School band will march in the parade, along with plenty of other participants.

Santa and Mrs. Claus and their elves will be on the last float.

The parade will end at Kimberly Memorial Park, where a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will then be held.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for visits and photos with children.

Also, the town is still taking donations for the Christmas in Kimberly program.

Hendrix, who also heads up the program, said there have been more applications for Christmas assistance this year because of the downturn in the economy.

Parents of children ages 0-13 can apply at Kimberly Town Hall for assistance.

Businesses or individuals may also contact Hendrix to make donations to the program.

The program also provides fruit baskets for the elderly in Kimberly.

For more information about the parade or about Christmas in Kimberly, call Hendrix at 647-5551.



Warrior

Further north, another city is also doing its part to help children in need this Christmas season.

The Warrior Civitan Club, Warrior Police Department and Warrior Fire Department are joining forces for the Warrior’s Christmas for Kids program.

They invite citizens to donate new unwrapped toys, cash donations or canned goods.

The Warrior Civitan Club is also sponsoring the second annual Winter Coats for Warrior’s Kids.

The group is collecting new or “gently used” winter coats for children. Used donations will be laundered or dry-cleaned by Civitans and given to a child in need.

“I am hopeful that we will have a highly successful drive this year as we have seen a very significant increase in the number of people requesting assistance,” said Jackie Wesson, president of Warrior Civitan Club.

Items for both good causes may be dropped off at any of the following locations: Law Office of Wesson and Wesson, Messmer-Goodwin Funeral Home, Compass Bank, Piggly Wiggly, Russell ACE Hardware, the Warrior Police Department or the Warrior Fire Department.

Application forms are available from the Warrior city clerk’s office. Call 647-0520 for more information.



Fultondale

Friday is the deadline to turn in applications for Fultondale’s Christmas assistance program, but the city will continue to accept donations of toys, clothing, food or money to help families in need.

Applicants must show proof that they live in Fultondale and the children attend Fultondale schools; provide a birth certificate for each child; and provide copies of SSI, welfare, food stamps, child support and pay stubs from an employer.

Children must be 12 or younger to qualify for the program.

On Saturday, Toys for Tots benefit ride, sponsored by Off-Road Connection in Fultondale, will take place at Gray Rock ORV park in Mt. Olive. All proceeds from that ride will benefit the City of Fultondale’s Christmas program.

Participants may donate a $20 toy or contribute $20 in order to ride the off-road trails for a day.

For more information about the charity ride, call Keith Bailey of Off-Road Connection at 841-2493. Call Fultondale City Hall at 841-4481 to learn more about the Christmas assistance program.