Elizabethtown will be "Rock'In the Holidays" when GEARS hosts the 2022 Elizabethtown Holiday Parade presented by Mars Wrigley. The parade will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10.

"We're encouraging people to really embrace the theme, with more music, more festivity, really getting loud," said Lee Eckert, program coordinator for GEARS. "We're going to have the Elizabethtown High School and Middle School bands kicking off the parade, and that's a great way to start a parade."

Other entries in the parade will include local police and fire departments, churches, Scout troops and local businesses. "We have three groups that will be having horses in the parade," Eckert stated. "We'll have horses and carriages and people riding horses."

The parade will also include a variety of floats as well as some surprises, he shared. "Santa always ends the parade, and he'll be escorted by some special guests," Eckert teased.

Children will be invited to visit with Santa in the square until 7 p.m. after the parade. Santa will also be making multiple appearances in the square throughout the month of December. "We're also partnering with the Elizabethtown Library, and Santa will be doing story time from 6 to 7 p.m. on (Thursdays) Dec. 8, 15 and 22," Eckert said.

The parade will travel on Market Street from West Bainbridge Street to Winnemore and Mechanics alleys.

Although the parade starts at 4 p.m., Eckert recommended arriving by 3 or 3:30 p.m. to secure a good viewing spot. "We usually get a good turnout," he said. "We're excited to have Mars Wrigley stepping up as a sponsor for the parade, and they've committed to sponsoring it for at least the next three years."

He said the parade is a great way to usher in the holiday season, adding, "It's really cool to see all the churches and groups, all the businesses and people in the community coming together for something that promotes the small-town, hometown feel of Elizabethtown."

For more information on the parade and for details on Santa's visits, check out http://www.getintogears.org.