OPELIKA — The Opelika Chamber of Commerce has set this year’s SNOPELIKA Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting for Friday, Dec. 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Opelika, and applications for parade entries are open now.
This year’s parade theme is “Christmas Movies,” with more than 90 entries expected — handcrafted floats, marching bands, businesses and community groups. Applications opened Sept. 1 and close Oct. 16. Space is limited and the selection committee will prioritize handcrafted floats; there is no fee to apply, but accepted entries owe a $75 participation fee. Applicants will be notified by Nov. 4.
After the parade, the celebration moves to Courthouse Square, where from about 6:45 p.m. downtown turns into a winter scene with artificial snowfall, Christmas music, snowball fights with the Opelika Police Department, food trucks, vendors and photos with Santa on the courthouse steps. The official tree lighting is set for 7:30 p.m., when the city lights its 72-foot tree — the second-tallest in Alabama.
Source: The Opelika Observer
Opelika Daily News — Midweek Report, Sept. 9, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
