By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



It’s only September, but parade organizers know that Christmas is just around the corner.

The Gardendale Cham-ber of Commerce has already held its first meeting to plan the annual Christmas parade, which is by far the largest in the area.

Set for Dec. 3 at 6 p.m., the theme for this year’s parade is “A Cartoon Christmas” and is meant to appeal to the youngest among us.

“We want it to be a Christmas parade to remember,” said Alan Hall, a volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce and youth paster at The Church Revived in Gardendale. “I really want this to be a kid-friendly event and something everybody wants to come to.”

This year, the chamber needs more help than ever.

In recent years, the chamber had a paid staff member to organize the parade. However, chamber leaders eliminated the position of executive director this year and the organization is now run entirely by volunteers.

Hall said the chamber needs help planning the parade, signing people up, making fliers, being on hand the night of the parade to organize floats and participants and more.

He is also looking for businesses along the parade route to set up for Candy Cane Lane. Those businesses would sell cotton candy, candied apples or other sweets to go along with the Candy Cane Lane theme.

It would also give stores a chance to spotlight their businesses.

Area churches will be handing out free hot chocolate and coffee to those attending the parade.

This year’s grand marshals will be Miracle League players and coaches.

The cost to enter the parade is $50 for businesses and $35 for nonprofit organizations.

Another planning meeting will be held Oct. 20, 1:30 p.m., at the Chamber of Commerce office on Moncrief Road.

Hall invites anyone who would like to help plan the parade or volunteer in any other way.

For more information, email Hall at alan@tcr

online.org or call the chamber office at 631-9195 and leave a message.