The borough of Montgomery has not had an official Christmas parade since 1985, and George Nash, a retired drum instructor for the Montgomery High School Band, thought it was time to change that.

Last year he organized a modest “unofficial” Christmas parade that had three pieces of fire equipment, the Montgomery High School Band and a few marchers. This year he set his sights a little higher and has organized an “official Montgomery Christmas Parade,” with the blessings of Montgomery Borough Council and other borough officials. This parade is slated to step off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 9.

“It seems like every other community in the area had a Christmas parade, and I felt after a more than 30-year absence that Montgomery should have one too,” Nash told Webb Weekly. “I love parades, and I really liked the idea of a Christmas parade being held again here in Montgomery.

Nash said that during the time since he organized last year’s makeshift parade he has been able to interest more people in the idea of a real and official parade.

For this year’s parade, he was able to round up more fire equipment from Montgomery and neighboring communities to participate in the parade. He was also able to line up students and other interested people to put together about 10 or more floats to place in the parade. He has assembled a panel of judges to judge the floats and various cash prizes will be given out. The Grand Marshalls of the parade will be the members of this year’s Montgomery High School football team, which had its best season in many years.

He is hoping to put in one or two Macy’s-style balloons to have in the parade if sponsors can be found to foot the cost. Anyone who might be interested in helping with this is invited to call Nash at 570-547-1260. The sponsoring entities will be able to have employees or other representatives help carry the balloons and will also carry signs designating the name of the sponsors.

The parade route is Main Street to Montgomery Street and then onto Second Street where it will end in the area of Santa’s House, near the post office.

Nash said the Montgomery Lions Club has been instrumental in assisting with the organization of the parade. At the end of the parade, the Summer Live organization will be involved in serving hot chocolate, coffee and giving out candy canes and doughnuts at the Montgomery Lions building.