This year’s Cruisin’ into Christmas parade will begin the holiday season in Bradford with a “Songs of Christmas” theme. Now in it’s ninth year, the parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday on Main Street.

“This year will include a few new things,” said Kara Kennedy, executive director of the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce. “Santa will be coming in on a city fire truck, and we will also include a horse group for the first time.”

The Bradford Area High School marching band, the Marching Owls, will perform during the parade. Altogether, Kennedy said there will be a total of 32 units in the parade, which includes floats, vehicles and everything in between.

While Kennedy acknowledged that it is her job to set up the parade every year, she said, “The parade never seems like work. I get just as excited as anyone else for it.”

Cash prizes will again be awarded for six different divisions in the parade: best holiday music arrangement by a school band, best holiday float by a business, best holiday float by a non-profit organization, best decorated classic car, best holiday arrangement by a dance team and best decorated fire truck.

In each category, prizes will be $200 for first place and $100 for second place. The best human Christmas tree category will also return this year, with a first-place prize of $100 and second-place prize of $50.

Signature sponsor CNB Bank will have a tent with giveaways and goodies located on Main Street in front of the bank, which will also be the location for the judging as parade entries pass by the bank’s volunteer judges. Individual parade entries should not include a live Santa on their float or in their group, as Santa will cruise into town as the last unit of the parade.

Immediately following the parade, Santa will be available for children to sit on his lap and personal quick photos at Wright’s Music Shed on Main Street.

Questions regarding the parade may be addressed to Kennedy at 368-7115 or kara.kennedy@bradfordchamber.com.