“Christmas at the Movies” is the theme for the 2018 Ada Pat Taylor Memorial Parade of Lights. The parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 6^th , beginning at 7:00 pm. Starting at the intersection of Main and Stockton Streets, entrants will travel east on Main Street to Centennial Plaza on the East Central University campus. The parade does not head back down 12^th Street anymore, so people should not park along 12^th in hopes of seeing the parade.

Honored as this year’s parade’s Grand Marshal is former State Senator Billie Floyd.

“Billie Floyd has been such an integral part of the Ada community forever,” said Ada Main Street program manager Amy Kaiser, whose organization hosts the parade each year. “When we were deciding on our grand marshal this year, we decided that we wanted to focus on someone who just depicted all things Ada. And she was our immediate first choice.”

Floyd will ride on the parade’s first vehicle, following the color guard. The parade is sponsored by OG&E and People’s Electric Cooperative

Kaiser continued, “This year’s theme is “Christmas at the Movies,” and participants are free to choose a classic movie or a current favorite as the inspiration for their entry. Participants must incorporate the theme into their entry, and they are encouraged to use live or recorded music.”

Entry forms are available at the Ada Main Street office, 124 E. Main St. Suite 7, or at House of Health on Main Street. People may also email Kaiser at adamainstreet@ cableone.net to request an entry form or go to Ada Main Street’s Facebook page.

Entries must be submitted by November 30, and the fee is $35 apiece, made payable to Ada Main Street. As a way of encouraging people to meet the deadline, the fee will rise to $45 after Nov. 30.

All proceeds will go to Ada Main Street to help cover its operating costs.

Other rules include:

• All entries, including walking groups, floats and vehicles must be lighted.

• Candy may be handed out during the parade, but it may not be thrown from floats or vehicles.

• Santa is reserved for the final float, provided by Ada Main Street.

• Floats cannot be taller than 13 feet, measuring from the ground to the highest point of the float.

• Entries will be judged on their adherence to the theme, lighting and use of music.

The McSwain Theatre, 130 W. Main St., will join the parade day festivities by showing “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” from 4 to 7 p.m., when the parade is scheduled to begin. “They will also be handing out free hot chocolate, and there may be a special guest at the theater that night,” Kaiser said.

As an added incentive to shop locally, Ada Main Street and the city of Ada will host a giveaway called “Mistletoe Money on Main” during the holiday season.

Participants who shop at any of 13 downtown merchants between December 6^th and 21^st may turn in their receipts, complete with their contact information, at the store. People who do not make a purchase may still enter the giveaway by writing their name and contact information on a slip of paper and turning it in at one of the participating merchants.

Kaiser will draw a winner December 21^st , and a $500 cash prize will be presented to the winner Dec. 22 in the store where the winning receipt came from.