The Hanceville Senior Center float was one of many in the 2016 Cullman County Christmas Parade. This year’s parade will take place on Saturday at noon. / Tribune file photo
HANCEVILLE – It’s that time of year again. Christmas season is upon us, and around here that means parades. For those seeking a fun non-commercial holiday experience, the tradition of a community Christmas parade offers something for the whole family to enjoy.
This Saturday, Dec. 2, the Hanceville Civitan Club will host the 28th annual Cullman County Christmas Parade on Highway 31 in Hanceville, followed by an open house at Hanceville Fire Station One.
Ricky Cason, Sr., president of the Hanceville Civitans, gave The Tribune a rundown on this Saturday’s festivities:
“This year, it’ll be in memory of Joann Walls, who passed away earlier this year–former (Hanceville City) Council leader. This will be the first one in memory of anybody, that I can remember. Joann was very special to Civitans, to the city of Hanceville. She loved the Christmas parade, and she’s going to be missed. The Civitans voted to do this parade in memory of her.
“Lineup will start at 10 a.m. on College Park Drive, which is across from the old Hardee’s. We’ll line everybody up til about 11:45. The parade will step off at 12 noon: rain, snow, sleet or hail!
“We have several floats, and we have entrants coming from Marshall County, Morgan County–some horses coming from that part of the area. We have a motorcycle club that’s supposed to come. Several floats: the Hanceville senior citizens, Dodge City senior citizens, so it’s a county event.
“Hopefully, we’re going to get four bands: the Hanceville band, Vinemont, Good Hope and possibly West Point. There’ll be marching bands, floats; people can throw candy. The parade’s about 2 miles: it’ll start at Wallace and end at the fire department. Then the fire department will have its open house, so people can tour the fire department, and there will be some kind of concessions there for sale: hot dogs, drinks, chips.”
The Civitans already have more than 50 committed participating groups and organizations for the parade. Cason said that he would like to have applications turned in by Friday, Dec. 1, but also said, “If you show up on Saturday, we’re not going to turn you down.” Participants are asked to pay $5, which will go toward the Civitan scholarship fund at Hanceville High School, and to help people with special needs and traumatic brain injuries in Cullman County.
For more information, contact Hanceville City Hall or call Cason at 256-201-7040.
Other area Christmas parades:
- Downtown Cullman, Friday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., from Busy Bee to Depot Park on First Avenue
- Good Hope, Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m., from Good Hope High School to Municipal Park
Read more about Joann Walls at www.cullmansense.com/articles/2017/07/18/remembering-hanceville-s-joann-walls-friends-share-fond-memories-service-details.
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