[11/28/04]Christmastime kicks off in earnest next weekend when the city’s annual parade rolls Saturday evening.

This year, the parade along Washington Street from Belmont to Jackson, will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the floats will be decorated with lights for the night-time display. Rosalie Theobald, director of the downtown Main Street Program, which sponsors the parade, said she expects between 60 and 70 participants, about the same as last year.

Parking on Washington Street will be blocked off between 4 and 6 for the parade, she said.

“We highly recommend off-street parking and the upper levels of the parking garage at Horizon Casino,” Theobald said.

The parade will be followed at River Stage Plaza by the lighting of a 30-foot tree with about 1,500 bulbs. The tree came off city-owned property on Lightcap Boulevard.

Theobald said winners of the downtown shops’ window display contest will be announced at the tree ceremony. Participating stores will be open for special hours today from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a Old-Fashion Christmas open house.

The parade and tree-lighting will be followed by the city-sponsored moonlight movies at 6:30 p.m. at Crawford Square. The free movies will be “Jack Frost” and “A White Christmas.”

Barry Graham, communications manager for the city, said he is also hoping to have on display the Santa’s Lane display given last week to the city by the family of the late Lester and Jackie Grant, who exhibited the wooden cut-outs for years at their home on Freetown Road.

Those looking for indoor entertainment can also see “The Nutcracker” performed by the Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at Parkside Playhouse. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children with proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

The performance will feature guests dancers from Brazil and Atlanta.

Vicksburg Dance Studio will also perform “The Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Vicksburg High School auditorium. Tickets are $7.

Earlier on Saturday, the 30th annual Clinton Christmas parade will be at 10:30 a.m. along a three-mile route on Clinton Boulevard and College Street.

The lighting of “Olde Towne” Clinton and the Chamber Open House will be Dec. 7 and will include carols, entertainment, activities and refreshments at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.

This weekend, McGee’s Castle in Raymond will also be open for public tours from noon until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The cost will be $6 per person with a portion of the proceeds going to the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.

The castle will be open again for public tours of the lighted grounds from 6 until 10 p.m. Dec. 17-24. The cost is $5 per car.

McGee’s Castle is about 30 minutes east of Vicksburg.

For the second year, the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express will visit Vicksburg at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 as part of an eight-state tour. The volunteer project that was begun four years ago raised $80,000 this year to be donated to the Salvation Army in 29 communities along its route. The donations are in the form of Wal-Mart gift cards for the purchase of warm clothing for children.

Last year, about $64,000 was raised.

The six-car Holiday Express includes a smiling tank car, “Rudy,” a flat car carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer, a miniature village, a ginger bread box car, the elves’ workshop, the reindeer’s stable and a little red caboose. Each car is decorated with lights and music.

In Vicksburg, about 1,574 people visited the train last year, the most of all its stops. Admission is free to the public.

The Old Court House Museum will also jump into the Christmas spirit with a ball and carolers. On Dec. 11, the Vicksburg Confederate Christmas Ball, formerly the Balfour Ball, will be from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 at the Old Court House.

Advance tickets are $50 per couple or $25 for individuals.

On the next night at the museum, Christmas carols will be performed at 7:30.

Mountain of Faith Ministries will also present its annual Citywide Christian Christmas celebration at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at Hawkins United Methodist Church. The cost is $5 and five canned goods.

Area schools will hold holiday programs starting with the district’s annual Christmas program at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at City Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.