Santa and a whole gaggle of his closest friends will parade down U.S. Highway 31 this Saturday when the Cullman County Christmas parade returns to Hanceville.

Now in its 30th year, the annual holiday parade brings a lengthy lineup of local high school bands, floats, and all the police, fire, and rescue sirens you can shake a bough of holly at — and ushers in the Christmas season as Hanceville flips the switch on a cheery December filled with holiday lights.

Starting at 12 p.m. in front of Wallace State Community College, the parade will follow Highway 31 right into Hanceville’s historic downtown, ending in front of the city’s Fire Station No. 1. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill will be the grand marshal this year, in commemoration of Alabama’s ongoing bicentennial celebration.

Once the parade’s done, stick around in Hanceville to tour the Christmas Tinsel Trail just down the road at Veterans Park. The trail features a series of Christmas lights and decorations on display nightly through Dec. 31, and is hosted by the Hanceville Civitan Club.

Proceeds from the trail, which raises funds through the sale of each display, benefit Hanceville High School student scholarships to Wallace State on behalf of the Civitan Club. The club offers four $500 scholarships each year to eligible Hanceville seniors.