This will be the 61st holiday parade with longtime Winder downtown business leaders Dot and Larry Jones of Larry’s Furniture and recipients of this year’s Profiles in Courage Award presented by the Winder Fire Department as special grand marshals.

Also serving as grand marshal is Col. (retired) John King, a Barrow County Chamber of Commerce ambassador who served in the military during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

The Apalachee High School Band will march through playing seasonal favorites.

The Winder-Barrow Middle School Honor Guard will also participate. Other school organizations involved include Apalachee FFA and Winder-Barrow FFA.

Floats will be carrying the Barrow County Cheer Association Wildcats and the Cheer Association Bulldogs, the BBYA Bulldoggs, Barrow County 4-H which will also have walkers accompanying that float, Cub Scout Pack 774 from Yargo Elementary, Girl Scout Troops 11840 and 11805, Girl Scout Troop 11807, Boy Scout Pack 750, Girl Scout Troop 11858, Boy Scout Pack 700 and American Heritage Girls Troop 594.

Churches joining in with the Christmas parade include The Church at
Pierce Road, Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Church
at Winder also with walkers, Apostolic Church of Winder, Church at River Hills, Hope Christian Academy with walkers, Bethlehem A.M.E. Zion Church and Winder First United Methodist Church youth group.

Other community groups involved in the parade lineup will be Friends of Fort Yargo, Barrow County CERT, Relay for Life and Peace Place.

Also having riding units in the parade will be Barrow County Democrats, Ilusions Hair & Nail Salon, Dixie Cruisers, Republic Services, Domino’s Pizza’s Pizza the Pie guy, The Peoples Bank, Mulberry Grove Assisted Living, and Ham and Jam Creations.

Other businesses involved in the parade will include Target, Controlled Blasting, WIMO Radio Station, Sonic Drive In, Just Wright Pest Services, Aaron’s Sales and Lease, Curves, Community Bank & Trust, Fire Line, Roll Off Systems and Burgundy’s Ice Cream Bus.

Enjoy watching the moves of special groups including Anytime Fitness, Rhythm and Moves Dance Center, Twin Tigers Martial Arts, Charlotte’s School of Dance and Studio One for the Performing Arts.

Pageant winners participating will include Miss Barrow County Relay for Life Paisley Scott Dickey, Miss Pre-Teen Apalachee Sheila Jencarell, Teen Miss Apalachee Olyvia Hurd, Miss W-BHS Red & Black 6th grade Ashton Collins, Young Junior Miss Apalachee Ally Bradley, Miss Red & Black Freshman Princess Amy Michelle Roton, Miss Apalachee Princess Kristen Stinchcomb and Little Miss Apalachee Rianna Major.

Auburn pageant winners will also be riding in vehicles and waving to the crowds gathered along Broad Street.

Again this year, Winder Mayor Chip Thompson will be aboard the restored 1940 fire truck with the ladder truck following behind.

Other governmental dignitaries taking part in the parade will be Bethlehem Mayor Sandy McNab.

The Winder-Barrow High School Band will lead the way for Santa and Mrs. Claus to come into town, make their way along the parade route and end at the Winder Community Center where the city tree will be lit.

Santa will be available to visit with children of all ages in the community center where there will also be an assortment of activities and holiday shopping opportunities until 7 p.m.

The Georgia Piedmont Arts Center will be presenting its Festival of Lights and City Market.

The Barrow County Retired Educators will have a Christmas Bazaar at th community center from noon to 7 p.m. Handmade Christmas items, baked goods and other items will be sold. Proceeds will be used for teacher scholarships.

Food and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus can be taken and there will be caroling. Santa movies will also be played during the festivities. You can enjoy roasting marshmallows and enjoy sharing some Christmas cheer.

Downtown Winder businesses will be holding extended Saturday hours.

Crafters and musicians are still being enlisted to entertain during the festivities. Contact Sabrina Wall at (770) 867-3106 or e-mail sabrina.wall@cityofwinder.com for more information.

After the parade winds its way along Broad Street and onto East Athens Street, Santa Claus, who will close out the parade, will join Mayor Thompson in the lighting of the Community Center’s tree.

The Barrow County Museum will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those visiting downtown Winder to stop in and see some of the heritage of the community.

Barrow County Historical Society volunteers Jim and Pat Baughman are serving as hosts for the day.

See the large whiskey still on loan from the North Georgia Mountain Fair. Over the weekend driving his Model A truck, Statham Mayor Robert Bridges delivered the still from the hangar at the Barrow County Airport to the museum with Oscar Hudson from Bethlehem "escorting" in his old Chicago Police car.

Assisting in the delivery were historical society volunteers Perry Barton, Scott Hang and Frank Nocera in the back of the truck.