City of Chelsea plans full day of Christmas activities for Dec. 15

Chelsea residents can get into the holiday spirit on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the 19th annual Chelsea Christmas Parade, a children’s Christmas party and the Santa Stop event hosted by Chelsea Fire and Rescue.

The main event, the Chelsea Christmas Parade, will begin at 10 a.m. at Chelsea Middle School and finish at the Winn Dixie on U.S. 280. Parade participants will include city officials, local businesses and organizations, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, the Chelsea High School marching band and Santa and Mrs. Claus. City staffer Wayne Morris and City Council member Tiffany Bittner will emcee the event, which will also be broadcast on Kool 96.9 FM.

Local singers will perform Christmas music at the parade grandstand behind the Winn Dixie beginning at 9 a.m. Chick-fil-A and Heavenly Donuts will sell breakfast items, coffee and hot chocolate, according to city staffer Gerri Roberts.

For parade rules and registration, go to cityofchelsea.com.

The city’s children’s party, Jingle and Mingle with Santa, will take place at the Chelsea Community Center from noon to 2 p.m. that day. The party will include inflatables, face painting, crafts from Chelsea Library and appearances by Santa Claus and other characters. 

In the afternoon, the annual Santa Stop will return as Santa Claus will take two routes through the city’s neighborhoods on Fire Engines 31 and 32, greeting residents and tossing candy to the kids.

Santa Stop typically runs from about 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The complete routes and schedules were not available at press time but will be posted in the online version of this story at 280living.com.

For more information, call 678-6060 or go to Facebook @chelseafireandrescue.