The 2009 Christmas season in Chilton County will officially begin on Friday evening, Dec. 4, with the Clanton Christmas parade followed by the first of three performances of “Carols”” by the Chilton Civic Chorale and Central Alabama Performing Arts.

Clearview Missionary Baptist Church in Verbena will be the site of the first “Carols” show, which will begin at 7 p.m.

The Chorale and CAPA will sing a number of secular and sacred Christmas selections, then the audience will be invited to join in congregational singing of familiar, traditional carols.

Light refreshments will be served after the performance.

“Carols” will continue on Saturday evening, Dec. 5, at 7 at Bell Lane Baptist Church in Clanton, and on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. at Collins Chapel Baptist Church in Thorsby.

The Chilton Pops will join the singers at these two performances, playing several Christmas favorites.

Light refreshments will be served after the program at Bell Lane.

“We’re doing ‘Carols’ a little differently this year,” said Marsha Littleton, spokesperson for the Chorale. “We’re taking our show on the road to reach out into the county to bring Christmas cheer to our audiences closer to their homes. We hope people will enjoy the more intimate settings and carol-singing. We want the spirit of the season to be felt by everyone.”

There will be no admission charged to any of the performances of “Carols,” but an offering will be received.