SYLACAUGA, Ala. – This year’s Christmas in Sylacauga is slated for this Saturday Dec. 10. This year’s schedule features Breakfast with Santa, downtown performances from choral groups, and the grand finale of the Sylacauga Christmas Parade.
The family-oriented day will begin in the Sylacauga High School lunchroom with the annual Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Sylacauga City Schools Foundation. The fundraiser will start at 8:00 a.m. and is open to students grades K-5 from First Methodist, Indian Valley Elementary, Pinecrest Elementary, and Knollwood Christian School.
Throughout the morning, children will have the opportunity to visit with various Christmas characters while Sylacauga High choral and band students perform holiday tunes. In addition, hand-painted Christmas ornaments will be on sale made by local art students.
To participate, parents must make reservations prior to the event for one of the three sessions: Session 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Session 2 from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., or Session 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The event is free for students but adults are required to pay $10 to enter. To receive a matted picture of your child with Santa and Mrs. Claus, an additional $10 is added.
Beginning at 12:15 p.m., the Sylacauga High School choral music students will sing Christmas carols through downtown Sylacauga for local businesses and shoppers. The group of students range from grades 9 through 12 and will sing various selections including Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Feliz Navidad, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
“We are very excited to bring in the Christmas spirit to downtown Sylacauga to the different businesses and locations to kick off the holiday season,” said Martez Tidwell, Sylacauga High Choral Music Director.
Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce officials hope community members will shop local throughout the day. Be sure to pick up your Buy Local Christmas Bingo card from the Sylacauga Chamber to shop for a chance to win one of 15 prizes. Organizers say by shopping local on Saturday, shoppers will help benefit the community and have the opportunity to listen to local students share their vocal talents.
The day will conclude with the annual Sylacauga Christmas Parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year’s theme is ‘A Star Spangled Christmas’ and will include more than 70 entries including fire trucks, local pageant winners, three marching bands, scouting troops, sports teams, and more.
“The parade route will begin at Sylacauga High School and continue down Broadway turning right onto Fort Williams at the Post Office. It will continue down Fort Williams concluding at Sonic,” said Laura Strickland, marketing director of Sylacauga Chamber.
Members of the Sylacauga Police Department and the Talladega County Sheriff’s Department are the grand marshals of the parade. Police Chief Kelly Johnson and Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore will be riding together followed by a float with current and retired officers and their children.
“We were going to have a movie in the park after the parade, but due to frigid weather, we thought it would be best to cancel since the movie was intended mainly for the children of our community,” said Strickland.
Organizers of all of Saturday’s events encourage locals to participate. They said this year’s Christmas in Sylacauga is sure to be one to remember.
Caitlyn McTier for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2016, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
