By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
The 2002 "Christmas the Way It Used to Be" annual Hartselle Christmas Parade has been set for Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
The Hartselle Jaycees will sponsor this year's parade making only minor changes to the traditional route and format.
"The parade usually ends at Morgan Plaza," Tom Sparks of the Hartselle Jaycees said. "Traffic congestion has become a major issue in that lot since most of the businesses are still open during that time of the evening."
The parade route will leave the football stadium on Railroad Street, turn left onto Main Street, turn left onto Corsbie Street, and end behind the old Wal-Mart building in Hartselle Plaza.
"The new route will not only end in a less congested area, but it will also offer more safe exiting options and avoid Highway 31," Sparks said.
Another change for this year's parade will be the limitation of horse and rider entries to the first 50.
Registered riders will receive armbands to wear for identification purposes during the event.
"The Jaycees does not want to eliminate the horses from the parade, but limiting the number of horse entries will greatly reduce the cleanup effort," Sparks said.
There is no entry fee to participate in this year's parade, but a $5 donation per entry is suggested. Deadline for entries is Monday, Dec. 2 at the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce office.
For more information, call Tom Sparks at 773-6534, Cooper Rhodes at 751-2438, or go by the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce office at 110 Railroad Street.