Christmas Village brings new elements to downtown Albany parade

ALBANY — Although the 28^th annual Albany Christmas parade was postponed due to weather, the festivities are back on track to bring a cheery atmosphere to the downtown area.

This year’s newest addition, the Christmas Village, is set to feature vendors selling food, arts and crafts, adoptable pets and more along the 100 block of Pine Avenue.

For the children there will be a showing of the 30-minute “Merry Madagascar” movie in Turtle Park at 8 p.m.

Stephen Brimberry, president of Friends of Tift Park Community Market, described the marketplace that parade attendees could expect, much of which will be designed by Joy Reeves, event planner and designer with Vintage South.

“It’s going to be like you’re looking into a house (with) two windows and a door entrance out front,” Brimberry said. “Pine Avenue is going to look like Winter Wonderland when (Reeves) gets done with it.” He added that the marketplace will include a canopy of lights, and Pine Avenue will be lined with decorations purchased by the event’s sponsors.

One of the village’s sponsors, Albany Humane Society, is hosting an adoption day.

“People can come and adopt a dog or a cat for Christmas, or donate to the Albany Humane Society,” Brimberry said.

Brimberry said the event will be secured by the Albany Police Department and feature 30 vendors, some of whom may dress up as Santa Claus and his elves.

“When it comes to vendors, there’s so much going on with other festivals that some of them had to back out,” Brimberry said. “But with other cities backing out of their Christmas parades, vendors called and wanted to join Albany’s. So we’re up to 30 vendors.”

He said that stores located downtown will still be open.

The deadline for vendor applications is Friday at noon. Brimberry said the $20 application can be found on the city of Albany’s website, and the fee goes toward future Downtown Christmas Parade events.

Brimberry credited Parade Coordinator Lorie Farkas with the idea for the Christmas Village and its layout.

“She wanted to get the little shopping market that they had in the Government Center floor chart and give it more visibility,” he said. “Through that, we were just creating a village. Hopefully, we’re going to do it every year, add to the village.

“If Albany supports it, it’ll be bigger and better.”

Brimberry said setup will begin Saturday morning, and that the village will be open from 3-9 p.m.