Chelsea holds 19th annual Christmas Parade

Morning rain showers threatened to soak the 19th Annual Chelsea Christmas Parade on Saturday morning. But skies dried in the nick of time.

Around 10 a.m., rays of sunshine momentarily poked through the clouds hanging over the city.

Even if they hadn’t, it would have been hard to dampen the mood of the hundreds who turned out for one of Chelsea’s most beloved traditions.

“It’s one of the most spectacular events in this city,” said Wayne Morris, a city staffer who emceed the event alongside WBRC Fox 6 meteorologist J-P Dice.

People of all ages lined the parade route, which began at Chelsea Middle School and ended near the Winn-Dixie on U.S. 280.  

Members of Cub Scout Pack 353 led the parade. They were followed by local emergency response units, as fire departments from Chelsea, Pelham and Westover all had trucks in the parade.

In total, the event featured more than 80 floats — a record, according to Morris — that represented local businesses, churches, schools and civic groups.

Members of the Chelsea High School Band also participated in the parade, playing Christmas tunes as they marched.

The parade was the first of three Christmas events held in the city on Saturday. A children's party called Jingle and Mingle with Santa followed the parade. Then, the annual Santa Stop  event wound through local neighborhoods.