Tyrone is getting ready for a busy holiday season.

The Tyrone Christmas Parade Foundation announced this week that the city’s annual Christmas Parade is set for December 13 at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will consist of professional floats, marching bands and a battle of the bands for a cash prize to the winner, church floats for a cash prize to the winner, a scholarship pageant to select a queen and court and other surprises. Special guest stars include recording artist Jason Coley Byrd, Miss Georgia USA and Santa Claus. This year’s paraded will be televised on Comcast and on WXIA Channel 11 December 22 at 2:30 p.m.

The parade will kick off at the Legacy Theater and continue on Senoia Road and disband at Redwine Park. The opening number of the parade features the Doris Russell dancers doing their rendition of The Rockettes “March of the Toy Soldiers. The parade is sponsored by United Community Bank, Comcast, the town of Tyrone and local businesses. The lighting of the tree at Triangle Park will follow the end of the parade.

The town is also sponsoring an essay contest during the holiday season. Students are encouraged to write about “What Christmas means to me….”

In 50 words or less,express what Christmas means to you. You must either print or type your essay and double-space lines. Make sure the essay has your name, your homeroom teacher’s name, your grade, your home phone number and your parent’s name. Submit to your school office by November 26..

Winners will be notified by phone. The first five places in the contest will ride on the front of the float with Santa Claus. For more information, call Jennifer or Lynda at 770-487-4694.