Foley Parade 2018.

Photo by Jessica Vaughn

FOLEY - It’s hard to believe there’s only three months left in 2019, and that in two months it will be time for the Kiwanis Club’s Annual Foley Christmas Parade. Believe it or not, the holidays are approaching, and applications are now being accepted for those who are looking to participate in the highly-anticipated holiday event. This year, the parade will roll on Sat., Dec. 7, with lineup taking place at 8 a.m. between the Foley Armory and the Foley Library with the parade beginning at 10. Kiwanis Club and Key Club volunteers will be onsite to help the entries line up, which is a first come, first serve basis.

“Our lineup has been simplified where instead of having participates line up where they’re signed up, such as having them tenth on a list and then them having to lineup at a point that is marked ten, now they just line up at the next available spot,” said Foley Public Library Director John Jackson. “It makes lining up so much easier on everybody now that you just come and get in line and not have to worry about squeezing into a small spot that’s been left open.”

The only exceptions to this rule will be the traditional starting lineup members, such as Foley High School band, ROTC, Foley Police Department, City of Foley, the National Guard, and the grand marshal. Jackson said he will begin calling businesses and organizations that typically participate in the parade within the next month, but anyone who would like to go ahead and sign up is more than welcome to do so.

The Grand Marshal for 2019 is Dean Hansen, former county commissioner and longtime Kiwanis member.

“He’s been involved with the parade since the very first parade and is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club,” Jackson said. “He’s been involved with putting the parade on every year since it first began.”

Floats can be any holiday/seasonal theme participants wish, with only one exception: the Kiwanis Club asks that no one feature Santa or Mrs. Claus on their floats. Rest assured, the members have already secured Santa for the parade’s finale to ring in the holidays here in Foley. Judges will be watching the parade to review the floats in two categories: commercial and noncommercial. Jackson will reach out to winners within the weeks following the parade about receiving their awards.

Immediately following the parade will be Let It Snow in Heritage Park, beginning at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to visit the park and experience the magic of “snow” thanks to the City of Foley.

The parade features cars, floats, trucks, marchers, dance troops, bands, motorcycles, and tractors and those who would like to fill out an application are welcome to visit FoleyKiwanisClub.com to print and complete the form available there. You can either scan the document and email it to the Kiwanis Club (link on the website) or Jackson (jjackson@cityoffoley.org), drop off the completed form at the Foley Public Library (319 East Laurel Avenue) for Jackson, or give him a call at 251-943-1032 to sign up via phone. Check out the Kiwanis Club of Foley on Facebook for additional information. The club meets every Tuesday at Vallarta’s at noon, and Jackson invites anyone interested in volunteering with the parade or speaking with the members to join them for lunch at that time. The parade is free to participate.