Picayune’s Civic Women’s Club annual Christmas Parade will be held on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.

Anyone interested in entering a float, horse, vehicle or marching group should turn in their entry form before Nov. 25.

Entry forms can be found at Handy Cleaners on U.S. 11, Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce office also on U.S. 11 and Melinda’s Fine Gifts on West Canal Street, said CWC president Mary Ellen Bright. Bright said she decided to extend the entry deadline to allow more people to enter.

“So many people wait till the last minute and they just can’t get in,” Bright said.

Additional rules and regulations will be listed on the entry form. Entrants should read the forms carefully and send the forms in to the address listed on the form, P.O. Box 1481, Picayune MS., 39466 care of Mary Ellen Bright.

Some new guidelines have been established for this year’s parade. Bright said horse entries will need to park their trailers at the Picayune Memorial High School stadium parking lot and stage their horses at the Margaret Read Crosby Memorial Library grounds. Portable rest rooms will be available for this year’s event. Also, the rest rooms at Jack Read Park will be open for use.

There will be seven categories for entries. Category A will cover floats 30 feet long or more, Category B is for floats less than 30 feet, Category C is for decorated cars, Category D is for decorated trucks, Category E is for marching groups, Category F is for decorated horse entries and Category G is for small vehicles such as road legal golf carts, motorcycles and bicycles. Bright said three- and four-wheelers and dirt bikes are not eligible for entry into the parade. Entry fees are $40 for Category A, $35 for Category B, $30 for Categories C and D, $25 for Category E, and $20 for each horse or mini vehicle in Categories F and G. Height clearance for each entry should be 10 feet.

Awards will be issued for each category A-F for Best Overall, President’s Special Award, Grand Marshall’s Award, Mayor’s Special Award and Founder’s Special Award. In Categories A and B there will be awards for Most Beautiful, Most Inspiring and Most Original. In Categories C and D, awards will be given for the best decorated car and truck. Awards also will be issued for the best decorated horse.

Decorated cars and trucks must be decorated in Christmas themes. This year’s theme will be Christmas in Toyland. Entries that do not fit the Christmas theme will not be allowed to participate in the parade and entry fees will be forfeit, Bright said.

The parade’s route will take the traditional path, which begins and follows Goodyear Boulevard, turns right on U.S. 11 heading south where it will turn right onto Bruce Street. At the intersection of Bruce Street and Main Street, the parade will turn right onto Main Street and head to Canal Street where the parade will turn left onto West Canal Street. The parade will end at the intersection of Goodyear and Kirkwood next to the hospital.

Parade goers should keep in mind when finding the best spot that throws and music will not begin until after the parade passes Highland Community Hospital.