Cities in Walker County are preparing for the first weekend of December with a trio of parades full of holiday cheer, Christmas lights and festive music. Rossville will roll out like reindeer on Thursday, Dec. 3, with the annual Down Home Christmas parade. LaFayette will light up the sky with a Christmas tree and light show following the parade on Friday, Dec. 4. The weekend’s events conclude in Chickamauga on Saturday, Dec. 5, with a day-long festival that could turn any Scrooge into one of Santa’s helpers.

Rossville

The 2009 Rossville Down Home Christmas Parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3.

Walker County commissioner Bebe Heiskell and Rossville mayor Johnny Baker, who will serve as grand marshals, will join Santa in this year’s parade.

In the midst of the tough economic times, Rossville is seeking to bring a night of joy and celebration to the community with bands, dance teams, organizations, associations, churches, clubs, athletic teams and other groups. Anyone interested in participating in the parade should call 423-463-4461 or email RossvilleAthletics@gmail.com to make reserva-tions.

Rossville wants you to be a part of its Christmas and hopes many will return to their hometown for a night of joy.

LaFayette

The annual Christmas parade will be held on Friday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. Lineup for the pa-rade will begin at 4:30 p.m. The parade route will begin at 512 South Main St. and follow north on Main Street through the Square, turning left onto Margaret Street to the parking lot of the old LaFayette High School to disband.

The theme for this year is “A Picture Perfect Christmas.”

If your organization wishes to be a part of the parade, please complete and return the form below to the LaFayette Recreation Department, P.O. Box 189, LaFayette, GA 30728 or fax to 706-639-0403.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place best-decorated floats in two categories. Categories are church/individual and business. If your organization wishes to compete for best decorated float, be sure your organization’s name is shown on both sides of the float.

Cutoff date for entries is Monday, Nov. 30. Contact the recreation office at 706-639-1590 after Nov. 30 to get your staging area for the parade.

Please come and join in the fun as we welcome Santa Claus to the city of LaFayette.

Make plans to continue the festivities at Joe Stock Park with LaFayette’s Amazing Christmas Light Show. This is a synchronized light show to music, an event for the entire family.

The free light show will run each night from Dec. 4 to Jan. 2.

Chickamauga

Downtown Chickamauga’s Christmas in the Streets will take place Saturday, Dec. 5. The event encourages residents and visitors to get in the Christmas spirit and showcase down-town Chickamauga with a variety of events taking place throughout the day.

A pancake breakfast with Santa will run from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the gymnasium of First Baptist Church at 603 W. Seventh St. in Chickamauga. Breakfast prices, which include pan-cakes, sausage, and a drink, are $3 per person or $7 per family. Santa photos are one dollar.

Beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., Gordon Street, between Thomas Avenue and the traffic light at Lee Avenue, will be lined with vendors showcasing an assortment of hand-made goods, as well as commercial products, food, and drinks.

Behind the Train Depot and Visitors’ Center, Kids’ Corner will be an exciting area. Santa will again be available for one-dollar photos from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children will be able to enjoy carnival games and make crafts to take home.

The Greatest Gift Give Away will again be in action with hundreds of items from which to choose. Children may pick a gift to wrap and take home to their parents or grandparents, completely free of charge. New to Kids’ Corner this year is an entertainment stage. Various community groups, including the Oakwood Christian Academy’s chorus, the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Children’s Choir, the First Baptist Church of Chickamauga’s Chil-dren’s Choirs, First Steps Dance Studio, KinderMusik and Chickamauga Recreation Associa-tion Cheerleaders, will entertain the crowd throughout the day.

At 5 p.m., as parade watchers gather, carolers will entertain the crowd with festive Christmas music, and at 5:40, Brent Jennings, music director of Fellowship Baptist Church in Chickamauga, will lead a community carol sing.

At 6 p.m., Chickamauga’s Annual Christmas Parade begins at Gordon Lee High School. The parade will advance down Lee Avenue and turn onto Gordon Street, finishing at Crystal Springs Plant Works.

Downtown merchants and restaurants, including Pie Slingers, Chickamauga’s newest pizza restaurant, will provide plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping and dining.

In addition, on Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13, the Gordon Lee Mansion will be decorated and lit with candles for the Christmas Candlelight Tours.

Admission includes musical entertainment, hot cider, and cookies. On Dec. 5 and 12, tours run from 6-9 p.m. On Dec. 6 and 13, tours run from 7-9 p.m. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens age 65 and over, and $1 for children 12 and under. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for children attending summer camp with First Baptist Church of Chickamauga.

Admission to Christmas in the Streets is free, and everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. Applications for vendors and parade participants, additional details, and a com-plete schedule of the day’s events are available online at www.chickamaugafestivals.com or by calling First Baptist Church of Chickamauga at 706.375.2733.