Apparently, it’s never too early to start getting ready for Christmas. Shops in town are already getting out the bulbs, tinsel, ornaments, stockings, mistletoe and all things green and red out of the attic and closet in anticipation of the Yuletide season.

Likewise, the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce is putting out word that they are now seeking volunteers to help with Brookhaven’s annual Christmas parade.

“We want to make this year’s parade the best it possibly can be. Much of the success of the parade lies in the organization,” said marketing director of the chamber and key parade organizer, Kay Burton.

This past Tuesday, city officials – including Mayor Joe Cox and chamber executive director Garrick Combs joined forces for a meeting to get a head start on all the logistics of this year’s parade.

Burton invited Rob Smith and Clint Earls of the Brookhaven Police Department to attend the meeting and help plan the parade’s route through downtown Brookhaven.

As in years’ past, local merchants and organizations will prepare floats for the parade. Burton expects to see more than 30 different floats this year.

“Each year brings a whole new set of floats. They are only limited by the creativity of the float designer,” Burton said.

Since the upcoming event is an equine-friendly parade, horse owners are encouraged to meet the day after Veteran’s Day, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Civic Center, if they are interested in entering a horse in the parade, said Burton.

The floats will stage for the parade at Exchange Park before they set out through the streets of Brookhaven and will return to the park once the parade is over. This year, the parade will be held on Dec. 5.

Parade Organizers are specifically looking for volunteers to arrange Christmas lights in the planters in the downtown area and refurbish some of the figurines that will be placed in Railroad Park prior to the parade. The volunteer work will take place Thursday, Nov. 14, and Friday, Nov. 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

If you would like to volunteer, contact the chamber at (601) 833-1411 or email pam@brookhavenchamber.com.