By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – A Pelham Hometown Christmas Parade returned for its fourth installment on Saturday, Dec. 14, and the citizens of Pelham were treated to a massive spectacle commemorating all of the festivities associated with the holiday season.

The event was organized by Pelham Strong, a nonprofit corporation who organizes, plans, and implements the Pelham Christmas parade on a yearly basis, amongst other duties. Melissa Leverett, a member of Pelham Strong and the Pelham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, discussed the inspiration behind this year’s parade, and how it came to life.

“The inspiration for the fourth annual Pelham Hometown Christmas Parade was ‘Christmas Past and Present,’” Leverett said. “We wanted to celebrate the timeless joy of Christmas, honoring cherished traditions while embracing the festive spirit of today. Each float captured this beautifully, with vintage decorations and scenes from Christmases long ago blended with modern holiday lights and music. It was a heartfelt journey through the ages, reminding us all of the enduring love and hope that Christmas brings.”

Leverett also added the impressive turnout for this year’s installment of the parade.

“This year, we were delighted to see around 12,000 to 15,000 enthusiastic attendees along the parade route and several thousand on Candy Cane Lane and the tree lighting ceremony,” Leverett said. “It was heartwarming to witness such a fantastic turnout. We also had some wonderful new groups join us for the first time, adding even more excitement to the event. The energy and community spirit were truly palpable, making this year’s parade a memorable one for everyone involved.”

The event was centered around one of Pelham’s most popular attractions, the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena. The day’s festivities began with Candy Cane Lane opening at 2:30 p.m. Candy Cane Lane consisted of a variety of vendors with items for sale and general information about their businesses and organizations. Plenty of photo opportunities were available, as well as face painters and balloon artists to entertain the youth of Pelham.

Leverett also highlighted the fact that there were plenty of new additions to Candy Cane Lane for the 2024 installment of the parade.

“This year, we were thrilled to introduce some fantastic new features,” Leverett said. “One of the highlights was a giant inflatable snow globe where participants could step inside and capture magical holiday moments. We also added a vintage photo bus that took everyone back to ‘Christmas Past,’ complete with nostalgic props and décor. For ‘Christmas Present,’ we had a cutting-edge 360-degree photo booth, letting everyone capture the festive spirit in a modern, fun way. It was a delightful blend of past and present, making this year’s parade extra special.”

Along with all of the activities at Candy Cane Lane outdoors, attendees also had the opportunity to participate in free ice skating from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Children under age 10 and their families could skate for free, and skaters were joined by a variety of famous characters: the Ice Sisters and everyone’s favorite snowman, a certain web-slinging hero, Rapunzel and the Good Witch all took to the ice.

Another inclusion to Candy Cane Lane were the various youth choirs of Pelham Ridge Elementary. The first through third-grade choir performed at 3 p.m., while the fourth and fifth-grade choir performed at 3:30 p.m.

“Their beautiful voices really helped to get everyone into the Christmas spirit and added a magical touch to the event,” Leverett said.

At 5 p.m., the parade officially kicked off from the Civic Complex parking lot, turning right on Highway 31 North, right onto Highway 119 and right onto State Park Road to complete the loop back to the parking lot. More than 50 floats participated in the parade, which also featured the Pelham High School marching band.

“The parade route was established in our very first year, and while we’ve considered making changes, we decided to keep it as is,” Leverett said. “We always envisioned a nighttime parade because the lights truly bring the magic to life. The route is lined with numerous businesses, and it’s wonderful to see parade-goers enjoying the festivities at every spot along the way. The nighttime setting, with all its twinkling lights, creates an enchanting atmosphere that captures the true essence of the holiday season.”

The Grand Marshals for the 2024 parade were former Pelham High football and University of Alabama football players Lane Bearden and Tyler Watts. Bearden and Watts were teammates at Pelham, and played for the Crimson Tide from 1999-2002. Bearden was a punter, while Watts played quarterback.

After the parade, the tree lighting ceremony was performed around 6:30 p.m. The Pelham Park Middle and High School choirs sang various Christmas carols, and the winners of the float awards were announced.

The city of Pelham won Best Use of Theme, the Pelham Park Middle School cheerleaders won Most Creative, Oak Mountain Brewing won Most Entertaining, the PYS 6th Grade Cheerleaders won Most Holiday Spirit, Mi Pueblo Supermarket won Mayor’s Choice and Pelham Bros. won Best Overall.

Immediately following the tree lighting, parade attendees were treated to even more holiday fun. Santa was available for photos, and the Pelham High School Culinary class served cookies, hot chocolate and cider. Skating was opened to participants of all ages, and participants also received a free ornament.

Leverett made sure to highlight the organizers of the event that helped everything run safely and smoothly.

“We are fortunate to partner with the city of Pelham, who expertly manage safety and traffic control, ensuring everything runs smoothly and safely,” Leverett said. “Their outstanding efforts allow us to focus on the event itself. Our dedicated team handles logistics, managing the flow of people along Candy Cane Lane, coordinating activities during the ice skating and organizing participants in the float areas. Their hard work and meticulous planning are key to the event’s success.”

One overlooked aspect of parades is how they accommodate citizens with disabilities, and Leverett emphasized this was a key point in planning and implementing Pelham’s Christmas parade.

“We strive to make the Pelham Hometown Christmas Parade inclusive and welcoming for all community members,” Leverett said. “While the outdoor seating naturally accommodates many, we recognize there are areas for improvement, especially for activities like ice skating. Our goal is to continuously enhance accessibility features. This year, we ensured there were accessible viewing areas for the parade, and we’re actively looking into ways to better support participation in activities for those with disabilities.”

Leverett concluded by discussing the impact the event has on the city of Pelham as a whole.

“The parade is undeniably the biggest event of the year in Pelham,” Leverett said. “It brings out so many residents, creating a wonderful sense of community and togetherness. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how much they look forward to it each year. This event truly embodies the spirit of Pelham, showcasing our shared joy and festive cheer. We’re already excited and gearing up for next year’s parade, ready to make it even more magical for everyone.”