By Rita Howell
Applications are now being accepted for participants in the Batesville Christmas Parade, set for Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. Entry forms are available from Mark Shields of the Batesville Shrine Club, sponsor of the event. His phone number is 934-1006.

The route of the parade has changed this year, Shields said. Marchers and floats will line up at 6 p.m. in the parking lot at First Security Bank’s main office at Eureka and Highway 6. The parade will proceed down Eureka to the Square, making a right turn north across the upper side of the Square, then onto Broadway, ending at Park Street. The parade will not cross the railroad track.

“This will cut out some of those sharp turns that can cause trouble for the larger floats,” Shields said.

The theme is “Keeping Christ in Christmas.” Trophies will be awarded for the best entries.

Parades are also being organized in Sardis, Como and Oakland. The Sardis parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, and in Como the parade starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 14. In Oakland, the parade will start at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 12.