Lining the sidewalk in Cave Spring were young children in Santa hats squirming in anticipation of the annual parade and their parents who sat in camp chairs and talked with friends. Next to the veterans walk, a Girl Scout troop had set up a baked goods table to raise money for a trip to Gatlinburg.

The girls yelled out “free hot chocolate! 50 cent goodies!” as they wandered through the waiting crowd selling goodies, while onlookers waited for the parade to start.

Among them were Romans T.J. and Kathy Sharp, who waited alongside Katie Tant in camp chairs Saturday night, near where U.S. 411 and Georgia Avenue intersect along the parade route.

Kathy was waiting to watch her friend Dessa Bradley drive by in one of three giant off-road vehicles in this year’s parade. Sharp said she could appreciate the small-town appeal of Cave Spring’s annual parade, even though this was her first time watching it.

But Katie was waiting for the most important man of the evening to show up in his bright red suit: “Santa!”

“I can’t wait to see it,” she said.

And eventually after watching trucks decked out in garlands and lights and playing Christmas music, and bikers with their motorcycles decorated, Santa showed up.

Grand marshals in this year’s parade included Georgia and Alabama fans Horace Cline and Dewell Lindsey. This year’s parade also included floats from a number of local churches and businesses, Redmond Regional Medical Center, and the Cave Spring Fire Department escorting Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the end, who wandered through the crowd wishing everyone a merry Christmas.