Minter is a small community in Dallas, but its annual Christmas parade always packs a punch.

The 20^th annual Minter Christmas parade drew an estimated crowd of 300 on Saturday and several Dallas County officials participated. Over a dozen floats took the short route down Highway 4. Several tents sold barbecue ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs and candy.

Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum opened the parade, followed by Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson, Dallas County Circuit Court Judge Collins A. Pettaway, Dallas County Commissioner Valerie Reubin and Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn.

The Selma High School band, Craig Volunteer Fire Department, Dallas County Tax Assessor candidate Carroll Bonner, Dallas County Tax Collector candidates Janet Frasier and Tanika Wagner-Neely also marched through the parade. Dallas County Commissioner Curtis Williams also attended.

Several Minter residents said they enjoy seeing residents from Selma, Prattville, Millbrook and Camden come to the Christmas parade.

“Every second Saturday in December, we celebrate our Christmas parade,” Zettie Blackmon said. “We love it when people from Selma and the surrounding communities come help us celebrate Christmas.”

Dre’Shawn Hamilton, a junior at Southside High School, said the parade never changed its format over the years.

“The parade is a lot of fun for people to come out and enjoy themselves,” Hamilton said. “It’s the same parade, we just have more people come every year.”

Mia Mitchell, a committee member of the Minter Christmas parade, said it’s always great to see high interest in the event.

“The attendance and participants in the parade have grown each year,” Mitchell said. “We’ve had a lot of people at the parade.”