The town of Marion invites the community to their Sixth Annual Town of Marion Christmas Parade and Open House Thursday.

    The theme for this year’s parade is “Toyland Christmas” and will feature more than 15 floats pertaining to the theme, said Hamasa Shriners Recorder Richard Whitehead.

    The parade line-up will start at 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church parking lot, with the parade beginning at 6 p.m and ending at the Hamasa Shriners on Marion Drive.

    “We feel by having a central spot for parents to drop off their children to get on floats will make it easier, and safer,” Whitehead said. “Since it will be getting dark early we can’t take a chance on a child getting hurt by walking down the road looking for their float.”

    Whitehead said the Hamasa building will open for the general public after the parade, where children can have their picture made with Santa while enjoying cookies, cupcakes, candy, and hot cocoa.

    Whitehead said there is no entry fee, but all donations will go to benefit the Marion Christmas Cops Campaign, which helps buy toys for needy children in Marion.

    “There are different boxes in Marion where you can drop off a toy – the Shriners building, Family Dollar and Dollar General,” Whitehead said. “The police department will deliver on Christmas day to needy families in Marion.”

     said he welcomes everyone to come out and have a good time in the town of Marion for the Christmas parade.

    “The Shriners have done a wonderful job of putting this parade together, and I appreciate them to the highest,” Marion Mayor Elvis Hudson said. “They have been an asset to the community and my hat is off to them.”

    Hudson said roads for the parade route will be blocked off by 5:45 p.m.

    “People traveling north out of Meridian to Marion can exit off to the right at Henderson Steel, which is Marion Drive, and that road will bring you back out to the Shell station,” Hudson said. “Those traveling south, coming in to the town of Marion from the Shell station, can exit off at the Shell station to the right or left.”