By Jason C. Mattox
The December calendar is already filled with local holiday festivities, beginning with parades.
Santa will make his first parade appearance in Crowder on Saturday, Dec. 5. The parade is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

A quick sleigh ride later, his next stop in December will be for the Christmas in Como celebration Saturday, Dec. 5. from 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. along the town’s Main Street.

The event will feature a soup and chili cook-off, carolers and other musical entertainment, and the Christmas Tree lighting in the center of town will wrap up the event.

Tuesday, Dec. 8, the Batesville Christmas Parade will make its way around the Downtown Square beginning at 6:30 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Peace on Earth.”

Wednesday, Dec. 9, parade enthusiasts can make their way back north to attend the Sardis Christmas Parade.

The Sardis Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Main Street and wind onto East Lee Street and back around to the Old Sardis High School building on McLaurin Street.

Thursday, Dec. 10, the final parade in Panola County will take place when Santa Claus visits the Town of Crenshaw at 6 p.m. on East South Avenue.

Two local Christmas Tours are planned as fund-raisers. The Batesville Garden Club will present a tour of homes on Sunday, Dec. 6, and the Heflin House Museum’s Christmas Tea and Tour of Homes in Sardis will take place Dec. 13.

For more information call 563-4434 for the Batesville Garden Club tour, or 487-0238 for the Heflin House tour.