By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Rotary Club of Chilton County is accepting applications for floats in this year’s Christmas parade until Nov. 26.

The parade will be held Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.

Applications can be picked up and submitted at the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce, Clanton City Hall and The Clanton Advertiser.

“Judging for the top three floats will be at 5 p.m.,” Club President Gordon Swenson said. “Floats will assemble in the parking lot at City Park (off of Highway 145/ Lay Dam Road).”

Prizes, totaling $300, will be awarded for first, second and third place in the float contest. Swenson said the prizes were made possible by the City of Clanton.

All floats are required to have a Christmas theme.

Fire trucks and bands will be staging at the Park Plaza Shopping Center before the parade. During the parade, the fire trucks will not be blowing their sirens and other overly loud noises are prohibited on floats.

Last year, there were 100 floats, and Swenson said the club anticipates the same level of participation this year.

Swenson said the parade route will be returning to the traditional route.

The route will start at Park Plaza Shopping Center in the Fred’s parking lot and continue on Fourth Avenue North, then turn right onto Sixth Street North and go one block before turning left onto Fifth Avenue North, then turn left onto Highway 31 and proceed south. The parade will then turn left onto to Jackson Avenue to Sixth Street and make a left and continue until Third Avenue North, where it will make a right at First Baptist Church before returning to the Park Plaza Shopping Center.

This year the parade will also be raising funds to provide Christmas presents to the 127 children in foster care through Chilton County DHR.

“We are looking for each participant to donate $10 to $20 as a voluntary donation, which the Rotary Club will match up to $1,500,” Swenson said.

He said the Rotary Club had participated in this project last year and wanted to expand the donation it was able to give this year.

Swenson said funds raised from the Taste of Chilton will be used for the club’s match of the donations.

“We want to use the money for local good, and this is about as good as you can get,” Swenson said.