BOYKINS—All the numbers but one look good for Sunday’s 36th annual Christmas parade in Boykins.

A modern-day record 62 entries are signed up. Temperatures in the high 50s are expected. The National Weather Service, however, is calling for an 80 percent chance of rain.

“There was one year that I can remember it was canceled due to rain,” said Kitty Lassister with Tarrara Woman’s Club, which hosts the parade with the Town of Boykins and Boykins Lions Club.

Boykins City Councilwoman Linda Beatty is pleased with the interest in the parade, which normally has 40 to 50 entries.

“I’m on draft number five right now for the lineup,” Beatty said. “I keep adding and moving things around.”

Participants are coming from Severn, Franklin, Newsoms, Branchville and Boykins. Most of the local fire departments will be represented, and the Southampton High School Band will participate.

She believes that Franklin’s decision to not have a parade may have helped the Boykins’ event.

“A lot of people have said the Boykins parade is one of the better ones,” she said.

Lassiter isn’t sure why the parade is so popular.

“Out little town is just getting much notoriety with new businesses and everything,” she said.

As for the 80 percent chance of rain, Beatty said they will hold off canceling as long as possible. The parade will not be rescheduled.

“We’ve had all kinds of weather and only called it off a couple times,” she said. “I can remember some very bitter cold ones and some in which we were in short sleeves. We’ve been lucky.”

If the parade is canceled, the news will be broadcast on radio stations in Franklin and Emporia, and Roanoke Rapids and Murfreesboro, N.C.