April Burks adjusts the ballet dress on daughter Arielle, 7, before the 2006 Fredericksburg Jaycees Christmas Parade. FILE/Sky Gilbar/THE FREE LANCE-STAR View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

By Dan Telvock

FREDERICKSBURG EVENT: Fredericksburg Jaycees Christmas Parade WHEN: Dec. 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. WHERE: Downtown Fredericksburg, up Caroline Street, up Amelia Street, down Princess Anne Street THEME: "A Colonial Christmas" to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown PARKING: The city's 297-space parking garage, at the corner of Sophia and Wolfe streets, has a special $2 cash fee tomorrow. Free spaces are available in public lots on Sophia Street, and along streets, except along the parade route. (The city will tow cars parked there after 3 p.m.) Also, FREDericksburg Regional Transit will run a free shuttle bus from Dixon Street Park to the corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Princess Anne Street. The shuttle will run continuous loops from 5 to 8 p.m. The Free Lance-Star will open its lots on Amelia and William streets to the first 100 people who bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, or make a $10 donation to the organization. The lots open at 3 p.m. PARADE FACTS: Ayree Rice, who is the Jaycees' vice president of community development, said the parade has a little more than 100 entries this year. Usually, the event raises about $7,000 to $9,000 for charitable events. The bulk of the money collected from entry fees--$50 for nonprofits and $150 for everyone else--is used to send children to Camp Virginia, which serves mentally challenged and disabled children and adults. ADVICE: Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe urges people to arrive early to park. "You won't be able to park a block away and walk in unless you get there at 2 o'clock in the afternoon," she said. Police also urge people not to park on private property, or in private spaces. (Such spaces must be marked as private property.) Bledsoe said the city fielded a number of complaints last year from people who had their vehicles towed during the parade. SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY EVENT: Spotsylvania Christmas Parade WHEN: Dec. 1, 2 p.m. WHERE: Spotsylvania Courthouse, from Spotsylvania Middle to R.E. Lee Elementary. THEME: This year's theme is "30 Years of Spotsylvania Tradition." PARKING: Parking is available at the Holbert Building, behind the judicial center and at Spotsylvania Middle. State Route 208 from Mullins Funeral Home to Massaponax Church Road and Brock Road out to Robert E. Lee Drive will be closed to traffic from 1:45-4 p.m. PARADE FACTS: Pam Hudgins, one of the three coordinators, said it's hard to believe that the county started the parade in 1977. Recently, someone gave her black-and-white photographs of the first parade that she hopes to display during this year's event. The parade will have 74 entries and about 1,200 participants. PARADE BONUS: Sidewalks have been installed near the Courthouse area. County officials will hold a ribbon-cutting prior to the parade. COLONIAL BEACH EVENT: Colonial Beach Christmas Parade WHEN: Dec. 1, 1 p.m. WHERE: Parade runs along First Street to Euclid Street, to Colonial Avenue to Washington Street, ending at Town Hill. At 5:30 p.m., the lighted boat parade, "Festival of Lights," will begin at Monroe Bay marker No. 2 all the way to Bluff Point and back. PARKING: The streets along the parade route will be closed. PARADE FACTS: A tractor made to look like a train will carry Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. At 2 p.m., Santa and his wife will greet children. BONUS EVENTS: At 5 p.m., Mayor Pete Bone will light the Christmas tree on Town Hill. Great Upstairs Theater will have a living Nativity play at 6 p.m. BOWLING GREEN EVENT: Bowling Green Christmas Parade, organized by the Caroline Chamber of Commerce WHEN: Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. WHERE: Main Street in the Caroline County seat THEME: "Fairy-Tale Christmas" Parade starts at 11 a.m. on Main Street. organizes the event. PARKING: The section of Main Street used for the parade will be closed. PARADE FACTS: Kim Napier, the parade organizer, said she has at least 53 entries. "That is more entries than we had last year," she said. School organizations will vie for a $500 award for the best float, she said. After a young snow queen is crowned, the contestants will distribute a check of more than $5,000 that they raised for the fire and rescue emergency fund.

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Date published: 11/30/2007

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