Good Hope is busy making sure the lights are all strung and the stockings all hung ahead of this year’s Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park, an afternoon-long celebration of the season this Saturday — in spite of a bittersweet and beloved missing piece from this year’s event.

The city plans to honor the memory of former Good Hope City Council member and longtime Santa Claus role-player Johnny Harris with a commemorative float to close out this year’s parade. 

Harris, a Good Hope native who fully embodied the jolly old elf for years both in his hometown and at Christmas gatherings throughout Cullman County, passed away in August after 19 years of service on the city council.

“Johnny occupied the chair right beside me on the council,” said Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett. “He and his wife were both my students, back when I taught — and then his daughter and son-in-law were, too. I have never been on the council without Johnny, and it’s just a tremendous loss for me personally, and I know also for the people who knew and loved him. Losing Johnny has been like losing a brother.”

In honor of Harris’ long stint as perhaps the area’s most familiar face behind Santa’s beard, Saturday’s parade will end with a float dedicated to his memory — including an oversized banner featuring his in-costume picture, a Christmas tree, and snow machine, said Bartlett. 

The parade is slated to begin at 2 p.m., leading from Good Hope High School down Alabama Highway 69 to the city park at Good Hope. From there, Christmas in the Park will keep the celebration going with a full lineup of food, goodies, games, and holiday fun until the evening wraps at 5 p.m.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.