The season of area Christmas parades begins Friday, Nov. 28, with the Tipton parade and continues each Saturday through Dec. 13. Tipton - The first Christmas Parade in Tipton is a night parade with a theme of "Frozen." Line-up will be at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. parade. The line-up is at St. Andrews School and the Knights of Columbus Hall. The parade starts west on Morgan, north on Moreau (Highway B), east on Moniteau and south on Osage and will drop off Santa Claus at the City Hall, where he will talk to children and hand out bags of goodies. Rain date is Sunday, Nov. 30.
Parades of the season continue in the area over the next two Saturdays with parades in Jamestown and California Dec. 6 and Prairie Home and Russellville Dec. 13.
Jamestown - The first of the Saturday, Dec. 6, parades is the Jamestown Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Lions Club. Line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. and the parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the Jamestown School. There will be a float contest. The parade, which is un-themed, will wind through town and return to the school where Santa will listen to the children and hand out treats. In case of inclement weather, Santa will hand out the goodies in the school lobby. For additional information, contact Nicole Koonce at 573-301-0834.
California - Last up for Dec. 6 is the California Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. The parade, with the theme of "Toyland," will begin at 5 p.m. with line-up at 4 p.m. on Stella Street by the swimming pool, proceed south on Owen Street, east on Patrick, north on Oak, then east on South Street, north on High Street, ending at the courthouse. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Commerce Bank after the parade to hand out candy and listen to children's Christmas lists. The parade entries must be lighted. Because it is a night parade, no candy will be thrown. For information contact the California Area Chamber of Commerce at 573-796-3040.
Russellville - The first of the Dec. 13 parades is the Russellville Christmas Parade, with a theme of "Rock-N-Roll," sponsored by the Lions Club, at 10 a.m. Line-up is at 9 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church parking lot. Santa Claus will stop in front of Community Point Bank to pass out sacks of peanuts and candy to children. For more information, call 573-782-4922. The parade route is the same as last year.
Prairie Home - Last up is the Prairie Home Christmas Parade, to start at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, sponsored by local businesses. Line-up is noon at the school with a theme of "Christmas Movies." All decorated floats, pets, bikes and tractors must be at the school by noon for judging. For additional information, contact Megan Alpers at 660-841-5683.