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By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Residents of Pelham will not have to wait much longer for the third annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 9.

“This year, we’re adding free ice skating for families with children 10 years and under between 2:30 and 4:30,” said Chad Leverett, Pelham Strong co-founder.

Leverett noted that this year’s sponsor road will include a number of local businesses as sponsors including Half-Shell Oyster House, Buck Creek Coffee Shop, the Enchanted Princesses and the Colonial Pipeline.

“All the city departments will be there as well, like the police department, fire department and the Ballantrae Golf Club,” Leverett said.

The parade itself will take place at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena, starting at 2:30 p.m., and events will run until well into the evening. 

“Between 7-9 p.m. Beauty and the Beast and Spider-Man will be there skating on the ice,” Leverett said. “93.3-FM ‘The River’ will be set up on sponsor road where they will be playing music, and they will be broadcasting the commentating from the radio station 93.3 And they’ll be linked into the high school broadcast students.”

Last year’s Christmas Parade in Pelham was estimated to have been attended by several thousand participants. Leverett and the other members of Pelham Strong estimate that this year’s parade will likely be just as successful.

“My favorite part of the parade by far is seeing the smile on the children’s faces,” Leverett said. “When I see police officers who are working that night and they’re standing at their shift with smiles on their faces—it’s a fun family event for a special town.”

Parade attendees will have the chance to have their picture taken with Santa, and also be able to receive a free Christmas ornament provided by the city of Pelham. 

“We try to gear this towards a ten-year-old’s mind,” Leverett said. “That’s why we are doing ice skating this year and the pictures with Santa. We want the children when they come to this, no matter what is happening in their life, to have the best time they can possibly have.”