By John Brice
Correspondent
Setting its starting point in downtown West Point, the 2023 Greater Valley Area Christmas Parade marched along Highway 29 through Lanett and continued on to its end point at the Walmart parking lot in Valley during the early evening hours of Thursday, December 7th of 2023.
Sponsored by the cities of West Point, Lanett and Valley along with the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, this year’s parade was led by recently retired former director of the Chambers County Development Authority Valerie Gray who was selected as Grand Marshal by its organizers.
There was no shortage of prime spots to get a front row seat to the holiday procession as it wound its way along a marathon route that ran the length of Lanett before crossing over Interstate 85 before finally finishing up at the far end of Valley.
Floats participating in the parade assembled in the parking lot of the Cherry Valley shopping center on Cherry Drive in Lanett before embarking on their long journey beginning at 3rd Avenue in West Point. Judging was held to rank the top floats in the categories of School, Community/Church and Business with three spots available for awards in each. Fairfax SGA took the top spot for the school category with Inspire Academy and Exodus Academy Homeschool receiving second and third place respectively.
Hopewell Methodist Church won first place in community/church with West Point First United Methodist Church and Holy Family Catholic Church in second and third. Green Gables Stables came first in the business category with Timeless Antiques and Valley Vision in second and third.
Police cruisers with their sirens flashing led off the parade and were followed by members of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program from Valley High School with the Lanett High School JROTC cadets trailing behind them directly after. Grand Marshal Gray made her appearance through the sunroof of a large pickup truck and was followed by Lanett Mayor Jamie Heard cruising behind her. Young athletes from the Valley Swim Team rode in a nautically themed float with the Valley High School Rams marching band following afterwards.
Further participating vehicles and floats included Kenny Knox Tire Center, Walmart Transportation of LaGrange, All Around Services, Capital City Bank, Berean Church, Ridge Road Baptist Church, Lanett Golden Panthers Concert Band, CCSD Superintendent Dr. Casey Chambley, Acts Academy, Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Spire Energy, KIA, Allstar Bonding, Jeff’s Heating and Air, East Alabama Health Lanier, American Leak Detection, Dr. Sharon Weldon campaign for CCSD Superintendent as well as countless others.