For the first time, the Town of Goshen Christmas Parade will usher in the Christmas season in Pike County. The county hosts three Christmas parades each year and, in recent years, Troy has hosted the first parade of the holiday season on the first Monday of the December followed by the Brundidge Christmas Parade on Tuesday and Goshen’s parade of Friday.

With the way the calendar is this year, Goshen will do the honors and Mayor Jack Waller said this is shaping up to be the Best Christmas ever in Goshen.

“We don’t really have a theme for this year’s parade so we’re calling it the ‘Best Christmas’ and we’re inviting everyone to come be a part of welcoming the Christmas season,” Waller said.

The parade will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday with lineup at 6 p.m. in the new parking lot for the high school gymnasium.

“Everyone from everywhere is invited to be a part of the parade,” Waller said. “You don’t have to register just come and you’ll be assigned a space. We’ll have cash prizes for the top three entries in the parade with first place getting $150, second place, $75 and third place, $50.”

Although the Goshen Parade is the main event of the night, it is not the only event.

A stage will be set up in front of Goshen Town Hall and Joey Jackson and Keith Snyder will be the emcees for the stage events.

“We’ll have Christmas caroling beginning around 5:30 and everyone is encouraged to come early and join in the singing,” Waller said. “A few minutes until 6 p.m., we’ll have several ministers who will read the Christmas Story and followed with prayer for unity in our country and peace in the world.”

Other entertainment on the stage will be the SheBANG! Cloggers and J.B. Roberts.

“Everybody enjoys the cloggers and J.B. Roberts was here last year and everyone really like him so we wanted to have him back,” Waller said. “Other entertainers will also take the stage.”

The Goshen Ag Academy will have Bingo at the senior center for those who enjoy the fun and fellowship of the game.

“The bonfire depends on the weather,” Waller said. “If it’s warm, we won’t need it.”

But bonfire or not, the Goshen Christmas Parade will usher in the Christmas Season in a warm and friendly way and everyone is invited.