SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Organizers of Spanish Fort’s fourth annual “Spirit of Christmas” parade hope to combine a little school spirit with some holiday cheer Saturday morning.

“Hopefully, we’ll have more than just the holidays to celebrate,” said permit clerk and parade coordinator Donna Dunning.

With the Spanish Fort High School Toros facing Birmingham’s Briarwood Christian School in the 5A State Football Championship game at 7 p.m. this evening at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, school pride is expected to be every bit as much on display during Saturday’s festivities as the holidays themselves.

Dunning said she’s expecting between 26 and 30 parade entrants for the 9 a.m. parade beginning near Dillard’s in the Eastern Shore Centre. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center Manager Hank Burch will serve as grand marshal.

At least one dozen floats will be flanked by no fewer than four dance troupes, two marching bands, a host of cheerleaders and “hopefully our state championship football team,” she said.

All signs indicate another favorable year for weather with sunny skies and brisk — but bearable — temperatures predicted, and Dunning said participation is “holding its own.”

“People have been hit hard this year economy-wise, but we’ve managed to make up the few entries we did lose with new faces,” Dunning said.

And while she cannot promise piping-hot beverages to ward off the chill, Dunning is hopeful area church groups who provided those amenities last year will repeat.

“Someone was out there pulling a wagon with hot chocolate, and it was just such a nice treat for everybody, very community-minded and in the spirit,” she said.

And don’t forget:

The SFHS choir will host its second annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa immediately following the city’s parade. Tickets are $6 per person, and breakfast will be served in the SFHS cafeteria.