Entries sought for 2018 parade
Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce have planned a special evening in the downtown area on Saturday, Nov. 24, to celebrate the start of the 2018 Christmas season complete with joyful music, lights, shopping, magic, and Santa Claus, before taking a moment to pause and honor loved ones who already gaze upon the Christ Child face to face.
“Special downtown activities will start at 4:00 p.m., and will include live music near the hardware store, a magician in front of the car museum, and the first drawing for Albany Bucks,” said Chamber office manager Mary Beth Jones. “Fiddlers will be on stage at 4:30 p.m., and we will have an open mic for anyone who wants to sing a Christmas song. We are hoping for a variety of singers.”
Albany Bucks Prizes
Participating merchants will hand out tickets for the prize drawings to qualified shoppers, one ticket for each $10 spent on Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24.
The tickets will be collected and placed in a big hopper on the trailer parked in front of True Value Hardware on Saturday evening.
Drawings for winners of Albany Bucks will take place at 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 24, and you must be present to win, according to Jones.
“We plan to give away more Albany Bucks than ever before,” said Jones. “We will give away two $50 prizes and one $75 prize at each of the four drawings.”
Albany Bucks can be used just like cash at participating Albany merchants.
A second set of Albany Bucks drawings will take place around 5:00 p.m., before Matt Stapp takes the stage.
Chili Supper
Chili will be served at the Aztec Theater from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
“We won’t be charging for the food, but donations would be appreciated,” Jones said.
Inspirational Message
Mike Parsons is scheduled to give an inspirational Christmas speech around 5:45 p.m., shortly before the third Albany Bucks drawing and the parade.
Lighted Parade
Entries in the parade are asked to pre-register if possible, according to Jones.
“We want to know who is on the floats so that we can announce them,” she said. “And this year we will have prizes for the best parade entries.”
The parade will line up behind the First Baptist Church starting at 5:00 p.m.
The lighted parade will start around 6:00 to 6:15 p.m. “as soon as it gets dark enough,” according to Jones.
Santa is expected to arrive riding on one of the floats in the parade, and he will be on hand afterward for pictures.
The final drawing for Albany Bucks will take place around 7:00 p.m., and parade winners will also be announced at that time.
Memorial Tree
This will be the first year for including inspirational speakers and lighting of the Memorial Tree in the Chamber sponsored event.
The unique tree will be located near the Chamber office, and as the activities wind down, the group will walk across Main Street and sing Christmas Carols before the Tree Lighting.
Coach Johnston will close the evening with a memorial eulogy.
Ornament Purchases
The Memorial Christmas Tree will be decorated with lights, greenery, and special ornaments.
“Remember your angels with a Christmas ornament on the Albany Memorial Tree,” said Jones. “You may purchase a $5 Christmas ornament to be painted with their name, and then it will be used to decorate the Memorial Christmas Tree.”
The Christmas ornaments are for sale at the Chamber office, and people can buy them by coming in, or purchase one with a credit card over the phone.
The ornaments will also be available at the Aztec Theater starting at 4:00 p.m. on parade day, Nov. 24.
“But we are hoping that most everyone will buy their ornaments early so that we can make sure that we have enough of them, and that they are all painted and on the tree before the ceremony,” said Jones.
Those who want to keep their ornaments can go by the Chamber office and pick them up after the Christmas season, said Jones.
