By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO — The holiday season was in the air in Montevallo on Thursday night, as the annual Montevallo Christmas Parade brought seasonal festivities and family-oriented fun to onlookers and parade participants alike.

The event began with holiday tunes from JQ’s One Man Swing Band on the post office lawn, and was promptly followed by the tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

The parade began at 6 p.m., and ran from the intersection of Wadsworth Street and Ashville Road on Highway 119, all the way through Main Street and concluded at Shelby Street.

“Someone said it looked like a Norman Rockwell painting,” Montevallo Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Adele Nelson said, as the various floats, lights, and decorations from the parade turned downtown Montevallo into a Christmas kaleidoscope.

Numerous organizations, including the Montevallo Fire Department, the Montevallo High School marching band, as well as various local churches, rang in the holiday season by parading down the city’s streets in various holiday costumes.

“This year’s parade was a big success, with numerous community groups participating,” Nelson said. “It was a great evening to be in Montevallo. Our city crew, volunteers and the merchants have really decked the town with decorations and lights. The parade was a great way to kick off the Christmas season.”

The MCs of the event, “Dollar Bill” Lawson and Steve Gilbert, announced parade participants as they made their way down the city’s streets, including the winners from the parade’s various categories. Alabama Custom Trailer and RV won “Most Creative,” the Montevallo Midget & Minor Youth Cheer program won “Most Christmas Spirit,” the Parnell Memorial Library won “Best Theme” and St. Thomas Catholic Church won “Best Overall.”

Various storefronts of businesses along the parade route were decorated for the holiday season, all for the chance to win the 8th annual holiday window contest. The official results for the contest will be announced on Friday, Dec. 13.

The sponsors for this year’s installment consisted of the following: The City of Montevallo, Dixie Decorations, Dixon Designs, Lucky’s Foodland, Montevallo Main Street, Team Lehman, Su Casa Real Estate, The Type Shop, Turstmark Bank, Montevallo ACE Hardware, State Farm/Bob Butterworth, Blue Phrog Gallery, Falcon Art Supply, the University of Montevallo, JP & Company and various state legislators, including Sen. April Weaver, Rep. Russell Bedsole, and Rep. Kenneth Paschal.