Candy canes and Christmas carols will fill Broad Street Dec. 12 during the city’s annual Selma-Dallas County Christmas parade. Leading the charge as grand marshal will be long-time Selma native Roger Butler with his wife Dolly.

“I could not be more excited,” Butler said. “The whole thing will be just fun from beginning to end.”

Butler is longtime owner of Butler-Truax Jewelers, where he still works with his daughter, Doris.

Although he spent most years watching the festivities from the sideline, Butler said he drove in the parade when he was in high school, and participated when he was in Cub Scouts.

“I’ve gone to many of the parades. Frequently I’ll be working in the store, and we’ll lock it during the parade and all of us will go out and watch,” Butler said. “I’ve been watching the parade for 75 years so now it’s fun to be the marshal.”

Mayor George Evans broke the news to Butler earlier this week at the store.

“He told me that he wanted me to be the Grand Marshall. I just thought we were talking, and then when he asked me to do that, it really surprised me,” Butler said. “I could not be more honored. It’s just a wonderful feeling, and I’m very grateful.”

The theme of the parade this year is candy canes and Christmas carols.

“It’s showcasing what our community is all about,” said Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce. “I consider it to be a family event where people can come downtown and experience this time of year.”

Registration to participate in the parade ranges from $10 to $20 and information on each category can be obtained by calling 875-7241.

“There’s still time to register, and I encourage everybody, if they want to be in it, they need to go ahead and register,” Smedley said.

The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 23. Those wanting to register after Nov. 23 will have an additional $100 late fee. The parade is set to begin at 3 p.m. and not in the morning like years past.

Lineup will be on Washington Street near EvMarie’s Cupcakery. The parade will follow the same route as in years past starting at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and continuing down Broad Street and turning on Furnace Avenue.

The Christmas tree lighting at Selma City Hall will immediately follow the parade.

“This is just one of the many activities that we have that’s free to the community,” Smedley said.