LUMBERTON — The Lumberton Area Chamber of Commerce will kick off the cavalcade of Christmas parades across Robeson County with its big event on Saturday.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the parade will spread holiday cheer from downtown Lumberton to Biggs Park Mall.

“It’s going to be great,” said Cindy Kern, executive director of the Lumberton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sandra Oliver, the retiring executive director from United Way, is the parade’s grand marshal.

This year’s event will feature 150 entries, with beauty queens, dignitaries, dancers, baton-twirlers, clowns, church choirs and marching bands from across the Public Schools of Robeson County. Members of the Robeson County Sudan Tomcats Shrine Club are expected to zip by in their trademark miniature cars.

Rumor has it that a certain jolly old man in a red coat will close out the parade. The weather appears ready to cooperate.

“The weather seems like it’s going to hold out for us and it’s going to be just cool enough for a Christmas parade,” said Kern. “Everybody come on out and enjoy a beautiful parade.”

Christmas parades are scheduled in Rowland at 10 a.m. on Nov. 28; Pembroke at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3; Fairmont at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4; Marietta at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5; and Red Springs at 3 p.m. on Dec. 12.

Staff report