The small town of Minter is hosting a celebration on Dec. 5 and all of Dallas County is invited to join in the fun.

The town’s fifth annual Millennium Parade and Homecoming will start with a parade at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day with a wide array of activities, shows and shopping.

Margaret Fails, president of the Millennium Parade Committee, said high schools from across the county will be represented in the parade.

“We’re going to have the Selma High band, the Southside High band, Keith High band and the Central High band,” Fails said.

Along with the bands, the parade will also consist of floats and horse riders.

After the parade, Fail said, the streets through Minter will be lined with vendors selling a wide variety of trinkets and food.

“This is something we try to do every year for the community,” Fails said. “All the businesses in Minter left, so we need these events to bring everyone together and try to attract new businesses to locate here.”

Other attractions throughout the festival will include gospel choirs, rap groups and a car show.

“We get big crowds every year,” Fails said. “This event just keeps getting better and better.”

Fails said one of the more popular vendors during the event is the barbecue sold by Minter farmer Earl Reynolds.

“Mr. Reynolds is one of the larger black farmers in the Minter area,” Fails said. “He still raises hogs, but he lost 40 pigs to Hurricane Ivan. Despite this, he is still a big supporter of the parade and is getting his famous barbecue ready. He looks forward to this every year.

Fails said that when she was growing up, she hardly ever took a trip to Selma. Everything her family needed was purchased in Minter.

“Things have really changed,” she said. “This is why the parade and homecoming are so important to the community.”

Other parade committee members include vice president Evaleane Hampton, secretary Valerie Reubin, treasurer Doris Boykin, George Fails, Annie Reeves, Sylvia Dennis, Sarah Johnson, and District Attorney Ed Greene.