Thousands of spectators will revel in the Christmas spirit Sunday when the annual "Holiday of Lights" Christmas parade winds its way to Main Street downtown from Capaha Park.

The parade, presented by Old Town Cape, will begin around dusk, but viewers usually begin gathering around 4 p.m., said Greg Cook, co-chairman of the parade with Kent Zickfield.

"They bring hot chocolate and wrap up in blankets," Cook said. "They have a good time starting the Christmas season."

The theme of this year's parade is "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," said OTC director Marla Mills.

More than 100 floats entered by groups, churches and businesses, are encouraged to be decorated according to that theme. All are required to be lighted and playing Christmas music as they glide toward downtown.

"It's going to be all family, all fun," Cook said.

Leading the parade will be Cape Girardeau's Town Crier, making the official announcement that it's officially the Christmas season, and it's beginning with a parade.

At the very end of the parade, in a horse-drawn sleigh, will be a special jolly guest -- Santa Claus. Mills said that Santa won't be able to talk to any of the children after the parade, but will be back Dec. 1 at the Downtown Christmas Open House to speak with the little ones.

Three marching bands -- from the Kelly School District, Egyptian Schools and Notre Dame -- will join the floats with Christmas music.

Certificates of recognition will be awarded to the best floats, Mills said. The Chairman's Award will be given to the best overall float picked by the parade chairman. First, second, and third prizes will be awarded for theme, music, lighting and spirit.

"Every year more and more people come to the parade," Mills said. "The word gets out, and every year we have more people attending and more floats."

This is the 15th year for the parade, which was begun by the Retail Merchants Association before Old Town Cape began coordinating it, Cook said. Sponsors of the parade are Drury Southwest, Inc., KFVS12, Realty Executives of Cape County and the Southeast Missourian.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160