Jingle bells ringing. People passing out candy to kids. Santa Claus saying hello to all of the families as he ends the parade with the magic of the season.

As December comes to a start there are a lot of christmas activities happening in the community, and one of them is the annual Christmas parade. This Saturday, the parade themed Merry and Bright will hit the streets at 10 a.m. It starts on wildkat Dr. and winds around Danville, Thompson and MLK ending up by the post office on Campbell St. where the judges stand will be located.

“I’m so excited about the parade because Im playing in it,” sophomore Elizabeth Skeen said.

The parade fills all of the families get in the christmas spirit and brings the small town Christmas spirit to the families who attend.

“What puts me in the Christmas mood is listening to Christmas music and setting up Christmas decor, baking cookies, making hot cocoa and hanging out with my friends and family,” sophomore Alexia Buell said.

All kinds of organization from Willis participate in the parade like band, Sweethearts and many more.

“I’m most excited about being able to play for the community with the band,” sophomore Alondra Ortiz said.

Everyone works very hard to make this parade to be very special for the community.

“I am most excited to watch my girls perform in the parade,” Sweethearts director Kaylee Trotter said. “We have a special routine we do for parades that the Willis community always loves. For the holiday parade we wear our purple santa hats that are always a hit too.”

Lots of students from the high school have gone to the parade for a long time even since they were kids.

“I’ve been going for a long time now and I’m most excited to perform and dance with my team now,” Buell said.

This parade  is very different from all the other ones that you would see in your regular community.

“The Christmas parade is different from the other parades since the whole community gathers together to celebrate Christmas and wish each other the happy holidays,” Ortiz said.