If any “small town” county celebrates the coming of Christmas in a bigger way than Pike County, it would be hard to find it.

On Friday night, the town of Goshen will usher in the holiday season when the county’s third Christmas parade of 2009 comes “a-wassailing” down Main Street.

Troy held its annual Christmas Parade on Monday night and Brundidge followed with its holiday edition on Tuesday night.

And, folks in the Goshen area are looking forward to their annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. on Friday.

“Line up for the Goshen Christmas Parade will begin at 5 p.m. on Eagle Circle behind the high school,” said Traci Shaver, town clerk. “The parade used to be called the Festival of Lights but now it’s the Goshen Christmas Parade but we still ask that all floats or entries be lighted or have Christmas music playing.”

The theme for this year’s parade is “Christmas Memories.”

“Cash prizes will be awarded for the best entries,” Shaver said. “First place will receive $100, second place $75 and third place $50.”

Shaver said it is helpful if those planning to enter the parade will let her know but that it is not a requirement.

“It’s good to have a heads up, but we want people to enter whether they call or not,” she said. “The number to call at Goshen Town Hall is 484-3246 between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon. There’s no entry fee and, even if you haven’t called, just show up and line up.”

The Goshen Pee Wee football team is the Super Bowl champion in its league and will have a place of honor in the parade.

And, as usual, the town of Goshen will go all out to usher in Christmas.

The appetizer event for the Goshen Christmas Parade gets under way at 5 p.m. with the town’s highly anticipated and much enjoyed camp stew supper featuring “stew” made by Mr. Camp Stew himself, Carter Sanders.

Camp stew plates are $6 and quarts of the famous camp stew are $8.

“We’ll also have burgers and pizza for sale and all of the proceeds from the camp stew supper and other food sales benefit our senior programs,” Shaver said. “The camp stew cookoff will get under way at 4:30 in the annex.”

Christmas T-shirts designed by Emily Walker, a student at Goshen Elementary School will be on sale.

“Emily was the winner in the T-shirt design contest for students in grades K through 3,” Shaver said. “It’s a real cute shirt for the holidays.”

The night’s festivities will include the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree and there will also be opportunities for giving.

“We will be taking monetary donations and donations of pop-tops for three-year-old Erin Brynn (E.B.) Johnson who is hospitalized following surgery,” Shaver said. “There will also be a Toys for Tots box for those who would like to donate a new toy for a child in need this Christmas.”