Dixie lights will brighten the night in Fort Oglethorpe this weekend.

The city’s annual Christmas parade, themed “Christmas in Dixie,” will begin Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. on Battlefield Parkway near Capital Bank, according to Capt. Doug Flury of Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue.

“I think this one is going to be a little bigger than last year,” he said. “We have asked the participants to be in the Christmas spirit and light it up.”

The parade route starts between Capital Bank and Kentucky Fried Chicken and will continue on Battlefield Parkway before turning left on LaFayette Road and culminating on Harker Road near Barnhardt Circle.

Rhadonna Parrish, Post Community Association representative, said no festivities are scheduled for Barnhardt Circle this year.

Flury said organizers scheduled the event on Saturday to avoid a time conflict with Ringgold’s Downhome Christmas Parade on Friday.

He said last week that the fire department, which organizes the annual event, had collected 25 parade entries. Flury added that more than one float or vehicle can be submitted on each entry.

The number of participants this year will likely surpass the approximately 40 vehicles that participated in 2003, he said.

Prizes will be awarded for winning floats based on performance, appearance and theme. First prize is $250, while second and third place prizes are $150 and $100 respectively.

The deadline for float entries is Dec. 3, but entries may be accepted the day of the parade, Flury said.

For more information or to receive a parade entry form, contact Connie Haddock at (706) 861-4194.

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