About face: Gadsden Christmas Parade back on, set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15

A float from Beautiful Rainbow Cafe and the Gadsden Public Library was among the units taking part in the 2021 Kiwanis Christmas Parade Dec. 4 in downtown Gadsden. This year’s event will now take place at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

Gadsden will have a Christmas parade in 2022, thanks to Mayor Craig Ford and the City of Gadsden.

The Kiwanis Club of Gadsden, which sponsors the annual event, announced Friday afternoon that the parade, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, was canceled because of the threat of rain and would not be rescheduled.

“A large number of Christmas parade entries have canceled, including all marching bands,” the club’s Glen Williams said in an email announcing the cancellation. “We can only apologize, but we have no control over the weather, and these decisions have come from the participants.” 

However, Ford told attendees Friday evening at Gadsden’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting that the parade would take place at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 15, and would be staged by the city.

Ford said he’d spoken with Kiwanis officials and representatives of area bands, and they’re all on board with the change.

“I called (Parks and Recreation Director) Jen Weathington, and we’re going to take it and run with it,” he said. “The city employees are excited about picking up the slack.

“I understand that it was a logistical thing with the Kiwanis Club, they had the one shot,” Ford said. “But we can’t not have a Christmas parade. That’s like not having Santa at Christmas.”

The mayor said the parade format and the usual entries will remain the same. The only change will be additional food vendors and places to purchase drinks like hot chocolate.

Other area Christmas parades left on the schedule:

• Hokes Bluff Christmas Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 5.

• Attalla Christmas Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 8, following the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.

• Carver Community Revitalization Committee Tuscaloosa Avenue Christmas Parade: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

• Christmas Boat Parade: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 10 on the Coosa River in the Southside-Rainbow City area.

• Southside Christmas Parade: 5 p.m. Dec. 17.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden Christmas Parade back on for Dec. 15, city to stage it