The Parade will be on Saturday, Dec. 6, beginning at 5 p.m. Immediately following the parade, all participants and spectators are invited to walk into Downtown Tifton for the Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration that lasts until about 10 p.m.

 Applications are now being accepted for parade entries and for food and craft vendors. If you have questions, call the Tifton-Tift County Main Street program at 229-391-3966.

For those of you who like trivia, last year's Hometown Holidays theme was "A Christmas Tradition." Other themes through the years include "A Storybook Christmas," "A Candy Cane Christmas," "Spirit of Chrstmas," "It's a Home Sweet Christmas," "It's a Red, White & Blue Christmas," "Tifton's Wild About Christmas," "Let It Snow," "A Tropical Christmas -- Waves of Fun," "Shiver me Timbers -- It's a High Seas Christmas," and, of course, "It's a Rootin,' Tootin,' High-Falutin' Wild West Christmas."

Whew! That last one's a mouthful.

The 4th Annual Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive begins today through Aug. 4 outside Publix Supermarket to gather school supplies of local needy children.

 Sponsored by Publix, Tift County Public Schools and the United Way of South Central Georgia, all supplies will be distributed during the school year through the Needy Children's Fund under the management of school system social workers.

"The need is great," says Dr. Gina Cox, Tift schools student services director. "By providing school supplies to children in need, our community allows them to participate fully in the projects assigned by their teachers. The increased engagement and sense of pride that results can help a young child get excited about the learning process and help an older child stay the course as he works towards graduation."

During the drive, a school bus is parked in Publix Plaza in the grassy area on Virginia Avenue. There are volunteers from 4-7 p.m. each weekday to collect donations of school supplies and cash. At other times, school supply donations can be dropped off inside Publix at the customer service desk. Publix shoppers may also contribute by simply adding a cash donation to their grocery bill. 

 Supply donations will be piled into the bus as the week progresses in an effort to literally stuff the bus with the supplies every child needs for success in school.

While several options for donating are available, a couple of special opportunities exist. United Way of South Central Georgia will hold a children's carnival on site from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. Every child bringing a donation of school supplies or cash gains admission for unlimited games, entertainment and treats.

"It'll be a fun morning for the kids with the added bonus of teaching the importance of service to others," says Greg Millette, United Way executive director.

Every family that donates during the carnival, or on weekdays between 4-7 p.m. while volunteers are present, will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Publix gift card. The winning name will be drawn at the bus on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m.