FRANKLIN—Western Tidewater continues to celebrate the holiday spirit with parades this weekend. The town of Ivor already kicked things off with its own display on Sunday.

The Franklin Christmas parade is scheduled to begin downtown at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.

Dan Howe, executive director of the Downtown Franklin Association, said 70 entries and four bands are signed up for the occasion. Howe remembered there was a record-breaking 108 entries last year, and he knew of several times in the past when the number was in the 40s.

But, he acknowledged that the weather could cancel the festivity.

“Friday is getting iffy, and there are chances of evening rain on Saturday and Sunday,” said Howe.

Indeed, the National Weather Service in Wakefield reported Tuesday afternoon that so far Friday is forecasted to be cloudy with highs in the mid-70s and a 60 percent chance of rain, and lows in the mid-40s. Saturday will be cloudy and cooler with highs in the 50s and a 50 percent chance or rain; followed by a 40 percent chance of showers on Sunday.

“The last thing the committee, or anyone wants, is to cancel, but you can’t subject people to bad weather,” said Howe.

A decision will be made Thursday, but he added there will be no rescheduling.

“The problem with a rain date is that you typically conflict with another parade,” Howe explained.

So, the committee has voted that if for some reason the event has to be cancelled due to inclement weather, the entries have the option of either donating their fees to the parade committee to be used for expenses, or pay it forward to next year. He added that some people have already said they’ll just count it as a donation if there’s a cancellation.

Howe wants people to know there’s a designated area in front of the farmer’s market for the elderly and handicapped to view the parade.

Also, for safety and space reasons, all residents are asked to keep their vehicles off of Main Street from 5 p.m. until after the event.

The town of Windsor has planned its holiday parade to start at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. The lineup begins at 3 p.m. at the Farmers Bank on Shirley Drive, and will continue on Church Street and end on North Court Street. A tree-lighting ceremony will occur at about 4:45 p.m.

But should rain wash out the fun that day, the event is rescheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8; lineup at 1 p.m.

Courtland’s annual Christmas Parade is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 on Main Street. There’s no word yet about rain dates.

The Carrsville Ruritan Club is sponsoring the village’s parade, also at 11 a.m. Saturday. Santa is expected at the firehouse afterward.

Capron’s 10th annual holiday festivity starts at 3 p.m.; the lineup’s at 2 p.m. starting at Cary’s Bridge Road, north of Capron.

Sedley will host Christmas in the Park from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Rogers Memorial Park, next to the Sedley Fire House on Johnson’s Mill Road.

Mayor Spier Edwards said on Tuesday that Boykins will have its parade at 3 p.m. Sunday. Then the tree in the mini-park will be lighted at 5 p.m. But if the weather’s too bad, then the town will rescheduled to Sunday, Dec. 15 at the same time.

A decision will be made Thursday, said Edwards, about going to the rain date.