Early this week we’ve had snow, ice and very cold temperatures. But according to our friends at the weather bureau, that is all going to change by the weekend, giving us a beautiful day for the Ava Christmas Parade on Saturday.
The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 1 o’clock in north Ava and make its way down Jefferson Street to the downtown square where the winners of the various contests will be officially announced.
Floats will compete for $850 in prize money, including $500 for the grand prize winner. First place will take $200, second place $100 and third place $50.
Floats will be built around this year’s theme, “Let Freedom Ring with the Bells of Christmas.”
The sponsoring Ava Area Chamber of Commerce will also offer prizes in other categories including best decorated horse, golf cart/4-wheeler, bicycle, pet, car, truck or tractor. You must have a valid drivers license to operate a motorized vehicle in the parade, however.
With bright sunshine and warmer temperatures in the forecast for Saturday, parade officials are expecting a large number of horses, vintage cars and other special units in the parade.
Area fire departments will be represented, and of course, Santa Claus will make his arrival on the back of the City of Ava fire engine.
The Region G mobile communications van will be parked on the square and will be available for tours following the parade. This self-contained trailer that is available to respond to any disaster is provided through the Department of Homeland Security.
For more information about the Christmas Parade, you may contact Judy Shields, executive director, at the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce, 683-4594.
Working with the City of Ava, the Chamber of Commerce is also sponsoring the traditional Friday Night Frolic on the square beginning at 5:30 Friday night, Dec. 9.
Also, businesses are being encouraged to decorate for Christmas and enter the Chamber’s storefront decorating contest. Decorations will be judged beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
The Friday Night Frolic will include seasonal music by the Ava High School jazz band and chamber choir, and participation by several clubs and organizations including Girl Scouts, Kiwanis Club, and Frontier Girls. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance on Friday night.
Little Miss and Master Merry Christmas will also be crowned on the square on Friday night.
There is no charge for entering the parade on Saturday or the decorating contest.
Anyone planning to enter a unit in the Christmas Parade should notify the Chamber of Commerce office so they can be included in the parade lineup.
The parade will form on Industrial Road north of Emerson Scroll Compressors (Copeland) on Saturday. The Ava Lions Club will assist with putting the parade in order.
Units entering the parade are asked to be in the lineup area well in advance of the 1 p.m. starting time so they can find their place and be ready to step off when the parade begins.
