LANDRUM – The 2016 Landrum Hometown Christmas Parade and Stroll has been set for Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

Plans for the annual event were discussed at the Nov. 1 meeting of the Landrum Area Business Association. According to Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District Chief Warren Ashmore, the lineup will begin at 5 p.m. at the Landrum Depot with the rain or shine parade beginning at 6 p.m.

This year’s route will follow North Trade Avenue before turning left on Rutherford Street and will end at Landrum Middle School, Ashmore said. Landrum Police Lt. Jason Coffin said Rutherford Street would be closed starting a few hours before the parade on Dec. 1 and residents of Landrum will be notified about parking two weeks before the parade.

A $10 entry fee for parade entries is requested by the LAFRD for a local Landrum charity, according to Ashmore. All entries must be received by Nov. 25. Parade entry forms can be found on the Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District website, LandrumFire.com.

Ashmore said the location of Santa Claus following the parade is still being determined. He said he is in talks with Landrum First Baptist Church to find a place for Santa after the parade. He added he does not have a total count for floats that would be in the parade and said entries would be submitted even at the last minute.

Walkers in the parade and stroll will be in front of the floats participating in the event, according to Ashmore.  He discourages people from throwing candy to the children because of the parade being held at night. He added a child was run over by a float one year in this situation.

Spartanburg County Council District 5 Representative Bob Walker said at the LABA meeting he and the Landrum Lions Club would be announcing the 2016 Citizen of the Year on Thursday, Nov. 3. The Citizen of the Year traditionally leads the Christmas Parade as Grand Marshal, and Walker added he has five nominations for Citizen of the Year.