ATHENS-The Reliance Bank Christmas Parade will be Thursday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Downtown Athens area. Motorists should expect increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic prior to the parade and road closures and delays during the parade.
There are over 100 entries, and an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 spectators
Athens Mayor’s Youth Commissioners Daphne Embry and Raven Warner working on the Youth Commission’s float entry. The float contest is highly competitive with many of the entrants hiding their floats in undisclosed locations throughout Athens so that no one will see them until the parade.
will be lined up along the route. Many spectators will start parking in their favorite spots starting Thursday morning. The parade will start at Athens High School, go west on Hobbs Street, go around The Square, and go south on Jefferson Street to disburse at Hometown Grocery or Athens-Limestone Public Library.
This year’s theme is “A Christmas Tradition.” The grand marshal is Hugo Bates, known locally as The Bubble Gum Man. The parade will include floats competing for grand prize, marching bands, cheerleaders, tractors, horses, fire trucks, and of course, Santa Claus.
