SPANISH FORT, Ala. — On Saturday, after your morning coffee and breakfast, bring the kids down to see the city of Spanish Fort’s first Christmas parade.

The city of Spanish Fort, also known as the “city of Spirit”, is sponsoring the event and has teamed up with the Eastern Shore Centre which is hosting the event.

Donna Dunning, chairperson, said the Eastern Shore Center was the logical place to have the parade. “We’re trying to do this together,” Dunning said.

So far, the city has received 58 entries from different organizations or groups to participate in the parade.

Applications for the Christmas parade started in August and ended Nov. 19.

Former Mayor Ray Carter, the founding mayor of Spanish Fort, will be the grand marshall, and former Mayor Greg Coleman will also be attending, parade officials said. Santa will give the reindeer a day off and will arrive in style on a fire truck from the Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue.The City Council and their families will ride on a float titled “The Spirit Flyer”, which will be pulled by a tractor driven by Mayor Joe Bonner.

The Spanish Fort High School band will march in the parade as well as the Fruitdale school band. The Bayside Academy band will also be riding in the parade, Dunning said. Throws will consist of the usual parade fare, such as candy and stuffed animals, but will be holiday themed, she said.

The parade will begin in the inside ring of the Eastern Shore Centre near Barnes and Noble and will snake around the shopping center. It will then travel along the outer ring on the Hwy. 181 side, only around part of the back side due to construction. Most of the parade participants are from Spanish Fort, but some are from the surrounding areas, Dunning said. The parade begins at 9 a.m. and should last approximately 45 minutes, she said.

The parade’s VIP list will also include Baldwin County’s Junior Miss, Miss Teen Alabama USA, Ms. Sr. Baldwin County, Ms. Faulkner State, the Dogwood Court and the Baldwin County Spanish Fort freshman football team and Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack will also be riding in a car.

Proceeds will benefit Maddie’s Fund, a national animal rescue organization and North Baldwin White Christmas, another charitable organization. Diverse groups will be participating in the parade, which will include the Coastal Alabama Parrotheads, Daphne Utilities, The Haven, Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church, Westminster Retirement Village and California Dreaming, a new restaurant at the Eastern Shore Centre. When asked if this would be an annual event, Dunning said “definitely.”

“In my opinion we had a huge response — better that I ever hoped for,” Dunning said.