Area prepares for Christmas parades

By Lora Scripps/The Leeds News

The cities of Leeds, Moody and Odenville have all been hanging holly and testing an assortment of red, green and yellow lights as they prepare for this weekend’s big event–their annual Christmas parades.

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Leeds Christmas parade again this year on Friday, December 11 starting at 7 p.m.

Veterans in the Leeds area will serve as Grand Marshals as participants take to the streets in celebration of the season.

The parade will start at Tenth Street and Parkway Drive turning left onto Parkway Drive. The parade will then stay straight to Ashville Road and will make a left turn on Ashville Court. Participants will then travel one block turning left on First Avenue and will disband at City Hall.

Everyone is invited to attend the event.

Leeds Police Chief Ted Cook asked that participants keep in mind prior restrictions when it comes to parades within the city. The restrictions include: 1.) No throwing candy or other items from any parade float. Participants may have responsible people walking alongside the floats to hand out candy. Candy spilled out along the parade route may entice children to enter the roadway to retrieve it. 2.) No stopping along the parade route for any performance due to the parade route traversing such highly traveled roadways including both Highway 78 and Highway 119. Road blockage must be kept to a minimum. 3.) All float drivers must be properly licensed and insured. They should also preferably all be adults. 4.) All floats must have adequate lines of vision for the drivers to see. 5.) No float or parade participant may turn out of the designated parade route without police approval and direction.

Cook reminds residents that these restrictions are in place to protect not only the parade participant, but also those in attendance.

The City of Moody and Moody Area Chamber of Commerce will host Moody’s Christmas parade on Saturday, December 12 starting at 5 p.m.

The parade theme this year is a “Hometown Christmas.” Mike Riata with ABC 33/40 will be the Master of Ceremonies and will be announcing each float from Center Stage at the Moody Crossroads as they pass by.

The parade will begin at ADESA and line-up will start at 4 p.m. The parade ends at Moody City Park.

Moody Fire Chief James Robinson said traffic on Highway 411 could anticipate delays for approximately 90 minutes from around 4:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. He added alternative routes include traveling Park Avenue and Kelly Creek Road on the eastern side of the city and those in the central part of the city can travel Markeeta Spur Road back up Park Avenue. He said that areas that are typically closed due to the parade include an area from Kensington to City Hall on Park Avenue.

“We also caution everyone to move very slowly,” he said. “Be aware of kids coming out into the roadway.”

The City of Odenville’s Christmas parade will also take place on December 12 starting at 4:30 p.m.

The parade will follow the previous parade route from years past. Delays can be anticipated down Highway 411 and participants are asked to use caution.

The parades will commence rain or shine, unless threatened by severe weather.

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