The annual Selma Christmas parade took place downtown Saturday where people lined the streets to see the different floats, cars and, of course, Santa Claus.

Melinda Page, a member of Zeta Eta Omega Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was putting the finishing touches on her float shortly before the parade.

“With all the sisters collaborating and working together, it was fun,” Page said. “We didn’t look at is as work but as us working together and getting ready for this parade.”

The sorority has been an advocate for reading for the last 50 years with the Reading is Fundamental campaign.

“It’s exciting to be celebrating 50 years of Reading is Fundamental,” Page said.“RIF has been existing with us for 50 years and we want everyone to know that this is their celebration saying happy birthday to RIF.”

Page and her sorority sisters used the parade theme, All Hearts Come Home for Christmas, and the 50th anniversary of Reading is Fundamental to decorate their float.

“We wanted to represent hearts, and we’re going to have a military person sitting there and that’s our heart is our military personnel coming home for Christmas and reading to their kids,” Page said.

Amanda Kiser was in attendance for her first Christmas parade in Selma and said she thinks it’s a good opportunity for people to get together.

“I always think it’s a good thing for the community when you get everybody together,” Kiser said. “It’s very exciting, especially to see the kids their eyes light up when everybody comes down and the bands and everything play.”

Page said that she always enjoys the parade, and agreed that it’s a good time for the community.

“I’m very glad [that Selma has the parade],” Page said.

“Christmas is a time for giving, and it’s a time that we recognize in our spiritual way the birth of Jesus and so it’s just something that brings us all together in unity because it seems like Selma comes together at this time. It’s an exciting time.”

Kathy Simmons said she used to go to the parade when her daughter was younger, but now she is there to see her grandchildren.

Simmons said her granddaughter, Kate Orvis, is a saxophone player in the Dallas County Marching Band, and she was excited to see her participate.

“My granddaughter is in the Dallas County Marching Band,” Simmons said. “It’s very exciting.”

Simmons said the parade is like the start of her Christmas season.

“It’s starting off the season,” Simmons said. “I’m going home to finish decorating now. It gets your Christmas spirit started.”