FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The temperature may be dropping in Fairhope but the parade fever is rising.

It began this morning with the 16th annual Chinese New Year Parade, sponsored by Children of the World, a nonprofit relief and adoption agency based in town.

This afternoon at 3:30 p.m., The Haven, a no-kill pet rescue and adoption agency, will present its annual Mystic Mutts of Revelry walking parade in downtown. Pet owners and their "mutts" will be decked out in Mardi Gras fashion for public enjoyment.

Rounding out the trifecta of parades today is the 26th annual parade tonight at 7 presented by the Knights of Ecor Rouge, Baldwin County's oldest parading mystic society. Bundle up and come on down to the heart of Fairhope and gather up your share of trinkets, Moon Pies and other delights traditionally tossed by the KOERs.

The 2010 KOER parade theme is Knights of Southern Rock ‘n’ Roll. Seven floats will visually present the theme, paying tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Wet Willie, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Charlie Daniels Band and Elvis.

Of course the beloved Daphne the Gator float, black stallion-emblazoned emblem float and the nostalgic bay boat float won’t be left out.

Be sure to listen for those well-known tunes from the 1970s as bands in the parade march by.

The streets that are on the parade route will be closed at 5 p.m. on parade days. “No Parking- Tow Away” signs will be posted along the parade route the day of the parade as well. Vehicles on the parade route, in violation of posted signs, are subject to towing after 5 p.m. Towing is only enforced on the actual parade route so that parked vehicles don’t interfere with float passage.

Barricades will also be used to block vehicle traffic from interfering with the parades. Barricades will be placed at 5 p.m. on parade days to re-direct traffic around the downtown area streets that comprise the parade route. The barricades will be removed after city crews have cleaned debris left after the parades. Barricades will be placed on Section Street at Bayou Drive, Section Street at Fels Avenue, Magnolia Avenue at Summit Street, Magnolia Avenue at School Street, Morphy Avenue at School Street, Morphy Avenue at Summit Street, Fairhope Avenue at School Street, Fairhope Avenue at Summit Street, Bancroft Street at Morphy Avenue, Bancroft Avenue at Bayou Drive, Church Street at Oak Street, and Church Street and Fes Avenue.

Motorists are asked to plan their routes accordingly, to avoid unnecessary inconveniences caused by road closures.