Bridge City ready to sparkle for holidays

Bridge City is already full of the color red. Add a little green, gold, and silver, and you get a festive mix for the holidays.

The city and chamber of commerce are making sure the community gets together to kick-off the holiday season on Friday and Saturday. First will be Christmas in the Park and the next evening, the 14th annual Christmas Lights Parade.

Chamber Director Mandy Lyda said Christmas in the Park will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 1, at 150 Parkside Drive. The park will be filled with vendors selling gift items, decorative items, plus all sorts of goods. A variety of foods will also be on sale.

At 6 p.m., Mayor David Rutledge will light the city's official Christmas tree and local choirs will sing songs of the season.

The chamber is sponsoring "Reverse Santa." This Santa accepts toys from children. Lyda said Santa will pose for a photograph in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy. The toys will later be distributed to needy children in the Bridge City and Orangefield school districts.

The parade as of Tuesday had 45 entries, with more expected. Lyda said a number of decorated Jeeps from local Jeep clubs will be included under one entry. Entries are still being taken through the chamber. The entry fee is one new, unwrapped toy for each individual participating. The toys will go to the Bridge City-Orangefield Ministerial Alliance to distribute as gifts.

The parade will begin Saturday, December 2, at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on West Roundbunch Drive. From there, the route will past Bridge City Intermediate School and past Commonground Church.

This year's theme is "Safari Christmas." The winner of the Mayor's Trophy or the best themed entry will receive $200. Lyda said the parade winners will be announced on December 12 at 8 a.m. during the monthly chamber Networking Coffee at Bridge City High School.

Bridge City ISD will break for Christmas beginning with early releases for students on Friday, December 22. Classes will be out for two weeks during the Christmas-New Year's break. Teachers will return on Monday, January 8, for a workday, and then students will start back in classes on Tuesday, January 9.