The streets are filling up for the much anticipated return of Santa Claus this year when the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Christmas parade through downtown Greenville on Saturday Dec. 4.

Chamber CEO Ralph Stacy said the response for this year's parade has been positive, and that a number of organizations have already registered to be in the parade, but he expects many more during the coming week.

"Each year we find that people wait to the last minute to let us know they are going to be in the parade," he said. "We want to encourgage any group that wants to participate to go ahead and get those registrations in so we can be better organized."

Stacy said entry fees of $10 will be collected for each float, vehicle and walking group, and the entries will be judged for cash prizes. Judging will be done in two categories: for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

"The amount of the prizes will depend on the number of entries," Stacy said. "But all money collected as entry fees will be returned in the form of prizes."

Stacy said the parade has become a tradition in Greenville that has been staged by the Chamber every year for at least the last 50 years. He said this year's parade will feature Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Hardin as grand marshals.

"The theme this year is What Chrismas means to you' and we want people to decorate their floats and vehicles in a manner that reflects what christmas means to them," Stacy said. "Christmas is a very homey and emotional time for all of us and this parade helps us remember where our roots are and lets us share the season with our neighbors."

He said applications for entries are available at the chamber office, and should be turned in with the entry fee by Friday Dec. 3. He said that while a number of entries have already been received, there is plenty of room for more.

"Last year we had about 70 entries, and we expect to have at least that many this year," Stacy said. "With the response we have had so far it looks like this will be one of our best years."

The parade will begin lining up at the city parking lot

off Herbert Street at 9 a.m. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and proceed down Herbert Street up Bolling and then proceed east on Commerce Street to the Courthouse.