By Kizzy Howell
On Friday, Dec. 2, Santa Claus will greet the City of Douglasville with a wave and a smile as he leads the city’s Christmas parade as grand marshal. Festive floats will be joined by the Band and other organizations as they march through downtown Douglasville.
The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. with road closures to commence at 5:30 p.m. The parade will start by heading west on Fairburn Rd. towards Bankhead Highway, veering left onto Church Street. Traveling southwest on Church Street, the parade will turn left onto Rose Avenue and continue south to Selman Drive. At Selman Drive, the parade will turn left and head east to Douglas County High School to disband.
The celebration will continue on with holiday performances, hot chocolate and a host of fun, as children visit and take pictures with Santa from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Holiday music will fill the air from 7 to 9 p.m. with a concert of carols featuring , Douglas County High School, , , and . Just Dance Performing Arts will also entertain the crowd with a Christmas performance. Following the concert, spectators are invited to join Mayor Mickey Thompson for the final event of the evening as he lights the Christmas tree on O’Neal Plaza.
“Spending time with family and friends is priceless, and time spent with loved ones during the holidays is extra special,” said Thompson. “The City of Douglasville’s Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting is a great event to share with your family and friends, and it’s sure to be a memorable experience.”
Special guest Izo the snowman, will travel to Douglasville to attend the city’s Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting and will share his experience with Georgia Tourism’s Facebook fans and Twitter followers. CITI TV will also highlight the events of the evening through a live broadcast on Comcast channel 22, the Tributary channel, and streaming online at mycititv.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Show your Christmas spirit by entering a float in the parade! Registration is $35 and is open until Dec. 1. The City of Douglasville will be the exclusive presenter of Santa. Parade participants are encouraged to incorporate other Christmas icons and holiday decor as a part of their entry. The city also encourages entrants to integrate lights in their float design, as the parade will take place at night. Registration forms are available online at www.ci.douglasville.ga.us, or by calling 770-947-5920.
The downtown public parking lot is closed for construction. Best places to park include DFB Mortgage, , and the old Bank of America parking lot on Church Street. Additional parking is available at , the former Douglasville Police precinct, and the parking lots. On-street parking is also available. Visit the city’s website for parade route, street closures, and parking availability. For more information, contact the Douglasville Community Development Department at 770-920-3000.
