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Columbiana Main Street was filled with Christmas cheer as local residents enjoyed holiday festivities at the annual Columbiana Christmas Parade on Dec. 3. (Reporter photo/Noah Wortham)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Columbiana Main Street was filled with Christmas cheer as local residents enjoyed holiday festivities at the annual Columbiana Christmas Parade.

“The parade was a success,” Manager of Community and Fair services Ali Payne said. “We had more than 60 parade entries.”

Festivities kicked off on Dec, 3 at 5 p.m. with food trucks, snow and carolers at the Christmas Wonderland in Old Mill Square Park where a variety of trees have been decorated by local businesses.

“We want to provide our community with a fun outlet to kick off the holidays, and we want to bring people to Columbiana so they can see how amazing our town truly is,” Payne said. “I have heard lots of positive comments on this year’s parade.”

The Columbiana Christmas parade officially began at 7 p.m. and featured The Pride of Shelby County Marching Band from Shelby County High School as well as the football team, local students and various businesses and organizations.

The Christmas parade route started at the Shelby County License Office, went down West Sterrett Street to Main Street, traveled to the roundabout and took Mildred Street to Washington Street then Thompson Street to Sterrett Street and returned back toward the Shelby County License Office.

During the parade, candy and goodie bags were tossed to those in attendance by parade participants and the various decorated floats as they traveled down the parade route.

“It would not be possible without the businesses and organizations who spend hours and hours building floats in preparation for the event,” Payne said. “These folks truly outdid themselves.”

Payne also expressed her gratitude to other organizations and individuals who helped to make the Christmas celebration in Columbiana possible.

“I’m also very grateful for our Streets Department who have gone above and beyond decorating for Christmas and who were here long after everyone had gone home on Friday so they could get everything cleaned up,” she said. “I’m especially grateful for the Gannon Family who served as the grand marshal of the parade and who lit the Christmas tree.”

With the parade concluded, the city of Columbiana still has a variety of Christmas festivities still set to take place each week.

“Each Friday night in December, Columbiana will have events in Old Mill Park and in downtown Columbiana,” Payne said.

On Friday, Dec. 8 there will be snow and food trucks in Old Mill Square starting at 5 p.m. and the Columbiana United Methodist Church will be doing free crafts and free cocoa in the Park at 6 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., south Main Street will close to vehicle traffic and Columbiana Main Street will hold activities on the street. The festivities for the evening will the theme of Ugly Sweater Night.

On Friday Dec. 5, celebrations will continue with more snow and food trucks in old Mill Square park at 6 p.m. and the Shelby County High School Jazz Band will play at 6 p.m. Columbiana Main Street will also be holding a Whoville Pajama Party.

The last Christmas celebrations will take place on Dec. 22 with snow and food trucks from 5-8 p.m. and Santa and the Polar Express will visit Old Mill Square park from 6-8 p.m. Columbiana Main Street will also host Reindeers Games for residents to enjoy.

After Christmas, Columbiana will hold its first-ever Not Quite New Years Eve Bash on Friday, Dec. 29 in which local can enjoy a countdown to the New Year starting at 9 p.m.

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