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The annual Christmas parade is one of the best events each year in LaGrange and Troup County.

It’s truly amazing how large the parade is for a community of our size, and it’s a fantastic celebration of the holiday season. You can’t miss it.

And one of the greatest honors an individual can have is to be the grand marshal of that parade. Besides Santa Claus, it’s the most important spot in the parade, and it means you’ve accomplished a great deal.

Stacey Hardigree was surprised to be named the grand marshal of this year’s parade last week.

Hardigree was greeted by Santa at Lafayette Society for Performing Arts but had no idea why he was there, and when she was told, she couldn’t believe it.

“I’m so honored,” Hardigree said. “I’ve been going to that parade my whole life.”

The parade will also be a chance to honor Marty Davis, a friend and colleague of Hardigree’s who was a music teacher at LaGrange High School. Davis died in 2020 from COVID-19.

We say congrats to Stacey, who more than deserves the honor for her work with LSPA over the years.

If you’re wondering, the parade will take place Dec. 2. Interested residents can pick up parade float applications at the Chamber’s office at 111 Bull Street in Downtown LaGrange.

The parade is only great because so many people participate each year, so please go grab an application and find a way to help out. It’ll be December before we know it.