BLADENBORO — Bladenboro residents are set to welcome in the Christmas season this weekend with a pair of events planned.

Holiday festivities will kick off Friday evening with the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting. Held at the Bladenboro Farmers Market, the event will include singing by local church groups, as well as refreshments. Even the jolly ol’ elf is scheduled to make an appearance, so kids may want to come with their wish lists in hand.

Saturday morning, Bladenboro will be filled with color, music, and the general merriment of the season when the parade makes its way through town. The parade will begin on Center Road, go by Fresh Foods, and proceed to the stop light, where it will turn right and finish at Bladenboro Middle School.

Participating in the parade will be favorites like the Shriners’ little cars, church floats, marching bands, festival queens, emergency vehicles, classic cars, and numerous church and civic groups.

“A crowd favorite during the parade is the singing groups,” said Greg Sykes, one of the organizers of the parade. “Most of them will stop right there in town around the Medicine Shoppe and perform, and people seem to really enjoy that.”

Music will provided by, among others, groups like Glory Bound, Milligan Music, and the Glad Trio.

Bringing up the rear will, of course, be Santa Clause himself, who will making his way through Bladenboro on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Throughout the parade, participants will be tossing candy and other goodies to parade onlookers.

Vicki and Lauren Clark will be grand marshals for the day. Bladenboro natives, the mother-daughter duo appeared in last year’s season of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser.”

The parade will take off at 10:30 a.m., and route roads will be blocked off beginning at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to begin lining up at 9:30 a.m. and may stop by Fresh Foods, where organizers can direct them where to go.

Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

Chrysta Carroll

ccarroll@civitasmedia.com