Starkville’s annual Christmas parade will roll through downtown Monday.
About 65 groups will join for the Star-Spangled Christmas parade at 6 p.m., which will feature marching bands, parade walkers and floats.
This year’s grand marshal is Andrew Rendon, a serviceman who directs Mississippi State University Student Affairs’ assessment office.
Since local and national politics are on the forefronts of many people’s minds this and next year, Greater Starkville Development Partnership Special Events and Projects Coordinator Jennifer Prather said the theme was a natural fit for this year’s parade.
This year’s route will take the parade to downtown via Lampkin and Montgomery Streets, and back to Lampkin via Washington Street.
“Each year, we try to come up with a unique theme that’s not repeated from the past — something that’s easy to get excited about and decorate around,” Prather said. “We’re hopeful for good weather. We can handle the cold, but we don’t want any rain.”
Monday’s parade and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of many events leading up to Christmas.
The GSDP is sponsoring Black Friday Bonanza, which encourages tourists and residents alike to shop local for the holidays.
Starkville’s 43rd annual Holiday Bazaar is also scheduled for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 2-3. at the Starkville Sportsplex. It will featured hand-made crafts from about 100 vendors.
Those looking to donate goods, services or money for charity this holiday season can find Volunteer Starkville’s 2015 Guide to Holiday Giving at VolunteerStarkville.com.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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