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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

CHELSEA – Hundreds of residents will lined the sides of Highway 47 in anticipation of floats, parade goers and candy during the annual Chelsea Christmas Parade.

Chelsea’s 25th annual Christmas parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. It will begin at Chelsea Middle School and end at Winn Dixie.

“The Christmas parade is one of the most fun things we get to do,” Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said. “It’s an opportunity to gather all of our families together, gather our friends together and we have a lot of people from out of town that come to Chelsea just for that.”

Amateur floats are encouraged for the parade and a limited number of professional floats can be purchased. The city requests that participants do not have anyone dressed as Santa Claus on their float during the parade. Due to safety concerns, motorcycles and ATV’s may not be entered in the parade.

Registration for the 2024 Chelsea Christmas Parade is available on the city’s official website at cityofchelsea.com/218/Christmas-parade until Dec. 13.

After the parade concludes, residents are invited to join the city for its annual Splashing with Santa & Mrs. Claus event at the splash pad at Melrose Park.

“This is our ninth year that we have done this,” Cindy Picklesimer said. “We started in 2016, and it has grown since we’ve moved it to the splash pad.”

Participants will have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and there are also plans for a special appearance by Bama Grump Grinch and Spiderman. There will be also be inflatables for young children to enjoy as well as snow.

“It’s been guaranteed from Santa’s lips that we will have snow at the splash pad—much more this year than we’ve had in the past,” Cindy Picklesimer said.