BY MERLE MONAHAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
merlemonah@aol.com

IVOR—For the first time, the Town of Ivor will have a Christmas parade.

“We’ve had parades on other occasions, but never at Christmas,” said Councilwoman Sandra Vick. “Or at least nobody can remember one.”

The parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, prior to the town’s Christmas party and tree-lighting ceremony.

“We still have space for participants in the parade, Vick said.

Anyone interested should call her at 757-859-6789 to register.

“We’re planning to have Christmas floats, decorated four-wheelers and bikes, horses, fire engines, old cars and motorcycles as well as marching bands.

Grand marshal will be Stephen Glascock, a local Marine who was injured in Afghanistan. Glascock will return to Ivor from his military base in Jacksonville, N.C., for the event.

“We want to make this a big holiday event,” Vick said.

Parade participants will assemble at 2:30 at The Pines of Ivor, circle around the town and return to the Pines.

The parade will kick off the town’s annual Christmas program at Ivor Municipal Building. At 4:30, there will be entertainment, including the Rhythm Sensation Cloggers and blue grass music by George Atkins and friends inside the building.

This will be followed by a free dinner of Brunswick stew and dessert prepared and served by Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad’s Ladies Auxiliary. Vick said donations will be accepted to defray the cost of the meal.

Rounding off the evening at 6:30 will be the lighting of the Cody Stallard Memorial Christmas Tree, which stands in front of the building. Doing the honors will be his parents, Kenneth and Tracey Stallard, and his sister, Kelly.

Cody was killed in a vehicle accident two years ago when he was 16. An anonymous resident donated the tree in his memory last year.

The town council also asks that every household place at least one lit candle in a window to burn throughout the holiday season to continue Ivor’s tradition as the Village of Candlelight.