By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
People young and old from across the River Region came out in full force Friday night for the City of Prattville’s 48th Annual Christmas Parade.
Last year’s parade was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but this year 75 groups participated in the beloved event much to the delight of area residents and visitors.
Pastor Thaylee Dickerson was the Grand Marshal for the parade. Pastor Dickerson founded the United Christian Church in Prattville and the Oasis of Hope Foundation, a community based non-profit group that serves Autauga County and the River Region through various forms of outreach, including food drives, coat drives, and more.
Crowds packed the streets for the nighttime parade, which began at the Autauga County Courthouse and traveled through downtown Prattville. Parade participants tossed candy, stuff animals, flashing light sticks and other goodies to onlookers.
The decorated and lit floats, trucks covered in lights, antique cars, dance groups, marching bands and many others took part in the much-anticipated annual event. One float carried the Grinch and some children even rode the Polar Express.
Some floats sprayed “snow” on parade watchers, or liquid soap blown out of air cannons that looked like snow.
If you missed the parade, there are still plenty of other Christmas-themed attractions to enjoy in a city that is starting to look a lot like a Hallmark movie. They include seeing the city’s 30-foot Christmas tree, ice skating and enjoying a snow machine. There are food trucks near the big Christmas tree most nights.
One of the most scenic sights in the historic downtown area is Autauga Creek Christmas Tree Trail. Behind City Hall is a walkway lined with lots of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The Trail is a project of the Family Support Center. Area businesses sponsored the Trail. They were provided a tree to decorate and signage advertising their business along the Creekwalk in downtown Prattville.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to go ice skating. The rink will be open through December except for Christmas Eve and Christmas. It cost $5 and includes skate rental. That is for a 30-minute session. Tickets are first come, first served and only 25 people can be on the rink at one time.
Hours are:
- Monday through Thursday: 5 to 9 p.m.
- Friday: 5 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 1 to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 to 9 p.m.
On December 14th, the City of Prattville will be dressed up and ready to greet you and your family and friends at the 6th Annual Main Street Christmas event Downtown from 5-7:30 p.m. The City is partnering with the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce and the merchants of downtown again this year for this fun, family-friendly event.
Santa will be visiting on Main Street at the Creekwalk Pocket Park. Children can drop off letters to Santa in a special mailbox near his sleigh. There will be take home ornament kits for children sponsored by the Prattauga Art Guild. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides again this year, but expect longer waits because rides will be limited. The Prattville Community Chorus will be caroling along the street and the ice-skating rink will be open from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Local dance troupes will entertain crowds in front of City Hall.
The Prattville Chamber of Commerce will give away a “Love What’s Local” basket filled with a variety of items from downtown merchants and cash. Get an entry for the prize with receipts from each different store that you visit. Merchants in the Downtown District will be open late for Christmas shopping, and if you are hungry or thirsty, there will be several businesses open for a meal, snack, or beverage.
For more information, visit www.prattvillechamber.com
or contact the Special Events Office at 334-595-0850.
