While most local residents are still finishing their Halloween candy and just starting to work up an appetite for Thanksgiving turkey, the staff at the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce is already thinking Christmas.
Plans are in high gear for the Chamber's annual Blytheville Christmas Parade. This year's event will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, along Main Street in downtown Blytheville.
"We're expecting a great parade" said Chamber executive director Liz Smith. "We're expecting lots of people."
Smith said several groups have already registered to put floats in the parade, and several marching bands are lined up. Additional entries are actively being sought, with the deadline to enter a float set for Monday, Nov. 30.
There is no theme for floats; the only rule is that no Santa Clauses are allowed (The one and only Santa will have his own float.) Parade entries will be judged prior to the beginning of the parade.
Smith said one new feature for the event this year will be the addition of food booths set up along the parade route. She said different community organizations are already planning to sell hot chocolate, hot apple cider, Polish sausages and other food items.
Mac Williams, who was honored last March with the Chamber's Lifetime Community Achievement Award, will serve as the parade's grand marshal.
The sponsor of this year's Christmas parade is Blytheville Walmart.
aweld@blythevillecourier.com