Annual Christmas parade looks promising

Dozens of participants will line up for the annual Ray Puckett Amherst Lions Christmas Parade at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

At least 44 participants have signed up for the parade, which includes floats, scooters, classic and antique cars, marching units, horses and livestock and a perennial crowd favorite — fire vehicles.

“Everybody loves the fire trucks,” said Jose Davila, the parade director.

And the parade list is likely to grow.

“We’ll have some last-minute people,” Davila said. “It will grow to 50 or 52 (participants) before it’s over with.”

Organizers always reserve spots for last-minute entries.

The theme this year is “Christmas 100 years ago,” in keeping with the Town of Amherst’s centennial celebration next year.

The grand marshal will be William “Goldie” Gouldthorpe, athletic director at Amherst County High School. The parade follows an early afternoon playoff game by the undefeated Amherst Lancers football team.

Judging categories will be for floats, judge’s choice, marching unit, horses, religious unit and best parade theme.

Davila cautioned that neither spectators nor

participants are permitted to throw candy, but they frequently hand it out as the parade progresses.

Participants will line up near the Amherst traffic circle beginning at 5:30 p.m. The parade ends at the Wachovia bank branch on South Main Street, but the permit calls for the road to be closed to Kenmore Road, to enable parents to pick up children, said co-organizer Carrie Davila.

Also, before the parade, free cocoa will be available at the Amherst County Museum and Historical Society, near the post office, and the the Amherst Fire Department will have vehicles on display for young people. And free books for children will be distributed during the parade.

For more information, visit www.amherstva.gov or call (434) 929-8146.

Trophies will be available Dec. 7 at WAMV, 132 School St., Amherst, (434) 946-9000.