Parade, hay rides, mini-train and more in Mineola Saturday

Mineola will ring in the holiday season with its annual lighted Christmas parade Saturday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

Theme of this year’s event is “Christmas through the Decades.”

Santa will be the guest of honor and join his fans for the tree lighting and photos afterward at the downtown gazebo.

Entry rules and forms may be found on the Mineola Area Chamber of Commerce website, mineolachamber.org under the events tab.

Floats, trailers, horses and walkers are invited to join in, and all are required to decorate with lights.

Line up will begin at 4 p.m. on N. Graham St. and westbound US Hwy. 80. Enter Graham from E. Blair or E. Kilpatrick St., not US 80.

Judging will begin at 4:30 p.m.

The parade will commence westward on US 80 (Broad St.) to Stone, turning right to Kilpatrick.

Mineola Main Street is again sponsoring free hayrides in downtown Saturday from 1-4 p.m. Dallas Nichols of Golden is providing his poppin’ Johnny tractor, still with original wheels, to pull the trailer around town.

The rides around town are free and will leave from Commerce Street by the gazebo. The antique tractor-trailer will also give members of the Main Street board and their families a ride in the Christmas parade.

The Harry Meredith Special will also begin its Christmas run on the 4th, offering mini-train rides from 4-7 p.m.

The train rides continue on Saturday Dec. 11 and 18.

The Mineola High School choir will be caroling on the 11th, and Santa will be along for the ride on the 18th.