Christmas time is coming near and as a sign of the times, parades are on the horizon.

The first area Christmas parade is the City of Newberry parade Saturday, sponsored by the Newberry Jaycees.

The Newberry parade will roll down Main Street at 2 p.m. with the grand marshal being newly-appointed resident Circuit Judge Eugene “Bubba” Griffith.

The community is encouraged to attend in support of local businesses, organizations and schools, according to the Jaycees.

Those in the parade need to be lined up by 1 p.m.

Early registration and a line-up will be available on Friday from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. in the Newberry Observer parking lot.

Also, those who are interested in participating this year but missed the Nov. 23 registration deadline will be able to late register until Friday.

Entry fees will be raised to $15 for a walking group, $20 for a float, truck or car, and $40 for a car group (first five vehicles, each additional vehicle will be $10 each).

The parade route is the same as years past, going from Main Street at Calhoun Street to Nance Street. Participants will line up on Calhoun, Johnstone, Amelia and Cheatham streets.

The proceeds from this year’s parade will benefit the Newberry Jaycees’ efforts to service the community and local charities.

For more information about the Newberry parade contact Heather Behringer at (803) 530-2604, or Haley McBride at (864) 430-8607.

Christmas festivities in Prosperity begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with the annual tree lighting at the Town Square.

The event will feature local church choirs and the Mid-Carolina High School chorus.

As the crowd sings by candlelight, the tree will be lit for the first time this season, according to event spokesman Glenn Hamm.

The tree lighting will be followed by the town’s Shoppers Walk, where local merchants will open shop doors to specials, prizes and discounts.

As the crowd goes from shop to shop on luminary-lined sidewalks they can enjoy cookies, hot chocolate and listen to ongoing entertainment. Santa is scheduled to make an appearance.

Sunday, Prosperity will roar to life with a parade strolling from South Main Street at 3 p.m. to the ballfield. Native son and Sheriff Lee Foster will be this year’s parade marshal.

The parade has more than 100 entrants annually with some entrants having 10 or more vehicles. This year’s parade entries will include street performers, classic cars, tractors, floats and decorated vehicles. Jimmie Coggins and Heather Hawkins of WKDK 1240 AM will broadcast live from downtown Prosperity on parade day with descriptions of each entry.

Groups can still sign up to participate by visiting or calling Town Hall at 364-2622. The entry fee is $20.

The Whitmire Christmas parade will travel through town on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m., with the grand marshal being John Roche Jr.

The parade will have a theme of The Spirit of Christmas.

There is no entry fee to be in the parade, organized by the town’s Jaycees, which already has eight to nine floats.

Entry forms can be picked up at Town Hall or by calling Sue Hollingsworth at 694-3797 or e-mailing suemh@charter.net.

The Peak Christmas Parade is set to roll the day after Whitmire on Sunday, Dec. 13. Entrants are asked to line up on Mike Stuck Road at 2 p.m. in order for the parade to begin at 2:30 p.m.