By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

Christmas time is just about here and the city of Vicksburg plans to welcome it with open arms with the city’s annual Christmas Parade of Lights, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.

The parade will take place in downtown Vicksburg and parade organizers suggest early arrival since the crowds are usually quite large.

“We’ve had thousands of people come out normally,” Kim Hopkins, executive director of Vicksburg Main Street, said. “We usually always have a great crowd.”

This year’s parade theme is a “Dr. Seuss Christmas” and special guests such as Thing One and Thing Two are joining in on the fun.

About 20 Christmas parade floats will be displayed downtown during the parade and each offers a different view on the Christmas holiday.

“All of the floats are special,” said Hopkins. “Our floats are paraded at night so it’s nice to see that and Jacob’s Ladder will be our Grand Marshal this year so we’re excited about that. The kids will be riding on Hearn’s Trucking at the front of the parade.

“We’re excited about that and we appreciate Hearn’s Trucking allowing the children to ride on their float.”

In the mix with the 20 Christmas floats is one that is a bit different from the others. The reason being that it is the first of its kind in Vicksburg’s Christmas Parade.

“Shananigans is participating in the parade this year,” Kim Hopkins said. “It is the first business, that I know of, to be a part of the Christmas parade.”

The Christmas Parade is the city’s annual start to the Christmas season.

“We’re looking forward to this being a great parade, a lot family fun and family friendly. We invite all the family’s to come out and bring the children and kick off Christmas with us,” said Hopkins.

The Christmas parade will roll down Washington Street.