Santa is coming to a town near you | Collierville Independent

You better watch out – it’s that time of year and Christmas is being celebrated throughout the Mid-South.

From Collierville to Millington, Bartlett to Oakland, the holiday season boasts a packed calendar of season-related entertainment.

Collierville

Collierville’s 36th Annual Christmas Parade is set for Friday on Byhalia Road at 7 p.m. with more than 70 entries already registered.

The parade is organized at the Home Depot in Collierville and ends at Collierville High School. No candy will be thrown by parade participants according to organizers.

Santa will be at the gazebo in Collierville’s historic town square Saturday at 11 a.m. Other events include strolling carolers and free carriage rides.

The Collierville Contemporary Club annual home tour is slated for Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Four homes will be featured including the Katsotis home at 260 Ashley Hall, The Bassett Home on 232 N. Rowlett the High Cottage at 355 College St. and the Bailey home at 225 S. Rowlett. Tickets are available throughout the area and registration may be made at the White Church in Collierville on tour day.

Collierville’s holiday fare continues Dec. 15 and 16 with Hot Glass in the Historic Town Square. Glassblowers from Southern Illinois University will be on hand from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday to showcase their skills. Demonstrations will be held on the hour.

Collierville will also feature a series of holiday light display awards.

The “Clark Griswold” award, named after Chevy Chase’s character on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, will go to the home or business best depicting the extraordinary lighting display. “The Holiday Spirit” award goes to the homeowner who’s residential lighting effort best reflects the holiday spirit. The city will also offer a “Reason for the Season” award for the homeowner whose residential lighting best reflects the Christmas spirit and a Creative award to the business that decorates their building or grounds most creatively.

Bartlett

The city’s season officially kicks off with its annual tree lighting at the Singleton Community Center at 6 p.m. Friday.

Santa will be on hand utilizing a fire truck as his sleigh. Crafts and children’s activities will be provided and pictures with Santa will be available for a small fee.

Bartlett’s Christmas celebration continues Dec. 8 with the annual parade. Sponsors note that the parade is one week later than normal due to scheduling conflicts.

“I’m Dreaming of a ‘Green’ Christmas” is this year’s theme in Bartlett with the parade to kick off at 4 p.m. There will be marching bands, clowns, floats, horses and more.

The parade will proceed on State Road (Hwy 64) between Elmore Park and Shelby Street.

Parade participants will line up on Stage Road between Altruria and Elmore Park. That portion of the highway will be closed starting at 1:30 p.m.

Bartlett has also released the 2012 version of its limited edition tree ornament.

According to city officials, the ornaments are intended to preserve different aspects of the town. This year’s ornament features Davies Manor; a home registered on the National Register of Historic Places, the manor is one of the oldest houses in Shelby County.

Ornaments can be purchased at the Bartlett City Hall, 6400 Stage Rd. and at the Bartlett Station Municipal Center, 5868 Stage Rd. for $10 each.

Arlington

The 21st Annual Christmas Parade in Arlington is slated for Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Parade participants are urged to help Santa provide toys to area children. Unwrapped toys are going to be brought to the gazebo at Depot Square.

Parade participants can start arriving on Douglas Rd at Chester as early as 2:30 p.m. The parade route will turn left at Walker and end when it crosses Quintard.

Directly after the parade, Santa will be in Depot Square and a tree lighting ceremony will be held within 30 minutes of the parade’s conclusion. The award ceremony will directly follow the tree lighting.

Lakeland

There will be no Christmas parade this year in Lakeland but the city and the Lakeland Lions Club will host a visit with Santa Dec.8 from 10 a.m. to noon. Children can have their picture taken with St. Nick at the International Harvester Club at 4523 Canada Rd.

Parents or grandparents will provide Santa a heads up by writing on note cards identifying the child and telling Santa something about them. This will allow the visit to be a special one as Santa relates the information back when the child’s on his knee.

Parents are urged to bring their cameras to take advantage of pictures with St. Nick.

Millington

Millington parade participants will stage beginning at 2:30 p.m. from Raleigh-Millington Road to Biloxi Street Saturday.

Themed “Memories of Christmas Past” will begin at 3 p.m. starting on Biloxi Street to Newport, right on Navy Road, right on Church Street and right on Bill Knight.

Oakland

Oakland will host its Christmas Parade Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.

The parade route begins at Chickasaw Ridge behind Wal-Mart and continues east on Highway 64 to Highway 194 before ending at Oakland Elementary.

The lighting of the town’s Christmas tree will immediately follow at the corner of Hwys 64 and 194 (In the lot next to Starbucks).



If you still haven’t had your holiday fill or seen enough of Santa, Germantown will conclude the season with its holiday parade Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.

Floats, horses, youth groups, marching bands and, of course, Kris Kringle, will be on hand.

The parade is set to begin at the corner of Kimbrough Road and Farmington Blvd proceeding west to Exeter Road and ending at the Germantown Athletic Club.