Christmas parades into Albany with a Celebration of Lights

ALBANY — On Saturday, the city of Albany heralded the 2016 holiday season with the 26th annual “Celebration of Lights” Christmas Parade.

Always held on the first Saturday of December, the event has become a regional favorite, drawing more than 40,000 spectators each year, according to event coordinator Lorie Farkas.

“This is Albany’s 26th annual parade,” said Farkas. “I started it 26 years ago. It’s a small group of people, a wonderful team, who put this event on that about 40,000 people come to and look forward to every year. This year the theme is ‘The Heart of Christmas Is Love.’”

Holiday enthusiasts began gathering along the parade route Saturday afternoon before to the lighting of the city’s live Christmas tree, the first to be located in the plaza on Pine Avenue in front of the Government Center.

The tree, put in place Tuesday by utility workers, was given to the city by a private donor and will be dedicated to area law enforcement personnel, according to Albany Utilities Marketing Manager Monique Knight.

The 40-foot tall, 16-foot wide tree was adorned with 4,000 lights in time for Saturday’s Christmas parade through downtown Albany.

“After a year filled with police being shot and citizens being shot, this year we wanted to honor the police,” Farkas said. “They are here to keep us safe and to keep us from living in anarchy. So we are honoring the Dougherty County Police, the Albany Police Department and the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office. (Representatives of the police organizations) are going to light the tree.”

Before the tree is lit, a choir of law enforcement officials will sing carols, according to Farkas.

Holiday floats and parade participants lined up down Pine Avenue before embarking on a procession through downtown.

“I am looking forward to being a part of the parade again this year,” said Freddie Greene of Tuskegee Airman Inc. “I have been doing this since about 1995.”

Cancer awareness group Albany Pink debuted their new car “Rosie,” a bright pink PT Cruiser, in the parade this year.

“We are excited and more than anything just want to have a good time,” said Rosie’s driver, David Drake.

According to Farkas, the parade has grown in popularity over the years to become a regional event.

“The parade became a regional parade years ago,” said Farkas. “People come from all over. This year we have over 100 entries, including a large number of floats, the Army band, horses, entertainment groups and we always have a child lead the parade. I love the Bible verse that says, ‘A child will lead them.’”

The parade began at Pine and Davis and proceeded through downtown before the crowd of spectators, culminating with the customary appearance of Santa and Mrs. Claus.