Area Christmas parades start rolling this weekend.
Magnolia’s Christmas parade is 5:30 p.m. today, then McComb’s is 10 a.m. Saturday.
Gillsburg’s Christmas parade will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Lineup begins at 1 p.m. at the Gillsburg Café. All floats and vehicles must be decorated, with the exception of antique cars and trucks.
Summit’s Christmas parade is 6 p.m. Monday.
Tylertown’s Christmas parade is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Osyka’s Christmas parade is at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. There will be no entry fee.
Former Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Mississippi executive director the late Randy Tate will be the honorary grand marshal in McComb’s parade. Tate’s children, Rashanda Littles, Shameka Reed, Rashawn Tate and Randy Richards are expected to ride at the front of the parade in his place, with a float from the Boys & Girls Club following them.
“It’s a great thing and the reason why I say it’s a great thing is Randy Tate poured so much into this community,” said Marcus Pittman, who replaced Tate as club director. “I think it is a great honor.”
“He was a great man in the community,” said McComb Recreation Department director Joyce Smith, whose office organizes the parade. “He did a lot for the community and the Boys & Girls Club.”
Tate, 63, unexpectedly died Nov. 28, 2021. The Boys & Girls Club was not able to participate in last year’s Christmas parade because Tate’s funeral was the same day.
“This year, it means a lot that we’re able to get back in the parade and we’re doing it on behalf of my friend, my boss and my brother,” Pittman said.
Lineup begins 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Main Street and Railroad Boulevard.
