The Clanton Christmas Parade is scheduled to begin Friday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. The parade will start lining up near the City Park ball fields at 4:30 p.m., and all participants in the float contest should be lined up by 5.

“We want them to really emphasize the Christmas theme,” said Parade chairman Roger Yeargan, member of the Rotary Club of Chilton County, the parade’s sponsor.

There is no charge to be in the parade, but applications must be mailed by Nov. 30 at noon. The address is provided on all parade applications. Applications will be available at Clanton City Hall and The Clanton Advertiser.

While there are no changes to the parade route, there is one new regulation. The only people allowed to march in the parade are members of high school marching bands. Everyone else should be riding on a float or vehicle.

“We have noticed in the past these small children get tired real early because of the length of our parade,” Yeargan said, adding that safety is another reason for the change.

He emphasized the importance of keeping the parade flowing through town at a steady pace.

“We don’t need any of these floats to stop,” Yeargan said.

Participants are allowed to toss candy but are advised to be careful. For the safety of spectators, no candy with sticks is allowed.

The grand marshals for this year’s parade are Bill “Bubba” Bussey of “The Rick & Bubba Show” along with his wife, Betty, and children, Hunter and Katelyn.

For a complete set of rules, pick up a parade application.

For more information, call Yeargan at 351-1913.