The Covington Lion's Club and Main Street Covington are already preparing to kick off the holiday season with the 2007 Christmas Parade for Newton County "Celebrate the Season" on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m.

"The parade may be bigger than ever this year judging by the amount of response we have had so far," said Josephine Kelly, executive director of Main Street Covington. "I was recently speaking with another downtown manager and he could not believe how much response we get to our Christmas parade."

Kelly said a minimum 100 groups enter into the parade every year. Much of the success of the parade had to do with the recent involvement of the Covington Lions Club, Kelly said. The civic organization has been involved for the past six years. This year Ed Minge, the vice president of the Lions Club, is in charge of the project.

"Ed's enthusiasm and experience has really been beneficial for the parade," Kelly said. "I think their involvement has even help with the quality of floats entered into the parade."

Georgia Electric Membership Corporation is among the competitors who have already begun work on their secret floats, Kelly said.

Newton County School's 2008 Teacher of the Year Eric Adams will serve as grand marshal for the parade. Kelly said the teacher of the year serves as the grand marshal each year. Adams, a Latin and Greek teacher at Eastside High School, will lead the parade in style riding in a 2007 Ford Mustang from Covington Ford. As always, Santa Clause's float will conclude the parade.

Kelly said local high school bands and color guards would also be participating in the parade.

A trophy will be awarded to the float deemed Best All-Around. The judges will base their votes on a variety of factors including holiday spirit, theme, creativity and construction. The Best All-Around Trophy will be awarded at the reviewing stand upon arrival of the float at Newton County Historical Courthouse.

First and second place awards will also be given for floats sponsored by high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, churches, civic clubs, families, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and business.

The parade will begin on Newton Drive before participants enter from Mill Street. The parade will then take a left on Anderson Street, a right on Floyd Street which becomes Clark Street, a left on Lee Street, a left on Washington Street which becomes College Avenue.

At this point walkers will take a left on East Street while vehicles will take a right. The walkers will then return to Floyd Street and then Anderson Street.

Vehicles will take a left onto Mill Street and a left on Newton Drive.

Float entries will continue to be accepted through Nov. 28.

For more information on the 2007 Christmas Parade, call Main Street Covington at (770) 385-2077 or e-mail covparade@yahoo.com. An application may also download at

www.downtowncovington.org.