FARMVILLE – Police Chief Doug Mooney, who brings to justice those who take things away from others, will open Sunday's Farmville Jaycees Christmas Parade, and Santa and Mrs. Claus, who freely give things away to others, will close the 2 p.m. parade downtown.

In between, 72 other floats and entries will fill Main Street with what the Jaycees promise to be a “Rockin' Retro Christmas.”

The parade, a long-standing Farmville tradition, begins its route at DMV, on Second Street, proceeding to Main Street where it will delight those gathered to watch it fill the air with Christmas sights and sounds on its way to the intersection of Main and Putney.

Activity will be well underway two hours before the parade begins, with the lining up at noon, participants getting in their positions, fine-tuning costumes, getting things just right and in order. A roll call of participants will square things away 30 minutes before the parade begins to move toward Main Street. Participants have been told by parade organizers to go to Second and Bridge Streets to fine their spots in the line-up.

And the Jaycees have stressed, in writing to each parade participant, “safety is our top priority.”

Parade committee staff and Farmville police officers will be on hand to guide participants, the Jaycees note.

The first Sunday in December has always, it seems, brought the community together on Main Street, to the heart of the Heart of Virginia, Thanksgiving memories just past but still within easy reach, and all of the Christmas season ahead.

For many, the annual Jaycees Christmas parade ushers in the Christmas season. The first jingle of the jingling bells. The first holly in the holly jolly. They came to the parade as children, with their parents, then brought their own children to see the floats, and now some come with their children and grandchildren to build on family memories that will never fade.

But much work goes on behind the scenes to make a parade experience that is fun and safe for all concerned.

For both participants and parade watchers, the Jaycees make it clear that for safety reasons “candy cannot be thrown from vehicles. Candy may, however,” a Jaycees press release states, “be handed to attendees from those walking alongside their entry.”

The parade, meanwhile, is geared to move on its way. Entries will not be permitted to stop on the parade route and, again for safety reasons, participants have been told to maintain a distance of two car lengths between each parade entry.

The Farmville Jaycees has worked hard to host the best possible Christmas parade on Sunday. The seen is set. The police department and other Town staff are ready to undertake what is, in reality, a major responsibility, along with Jaycees members. The weather is going to cooperate. Santa will be there, along with Mrs. Claus, and these parade participants will be ready to make the season bright:

1. Chief of Police

2. Grand Marshal – Bridget Carrington

3. Southside Shrine Band

4. Fuqua School Band

5. Fuqua Home Coming Court

6. Heart of Virginia PT Cruiser Club

7. Leadership Starts Earley @ Fuqua School

8. Farmville Fire Department

9. Darlington Heights Fire Dept.

10. JR Tharpe Trucking

11. Calvary Chapel Farmville

12. Farmville Lions Club

13. 2012 Miss Five County

14. 2012 Teen Miss Five County

15. 2012 Jr. Miss Five County

16. 2012 Petite Miss Five County

17. 2012 Little Miss Five County

18. Faith Best

19. Christmas of Old-Taikein Cooper for Treasurer

20. Tom Lanigan

21. Rotary Club of Farmville

22. Century Link

23. Crewe Tractor

24. Tom Mix Rangers

25. High Bridge Trail State Park

26. Holiday Hoofbeats

27. Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity

28. Heart of Virginia Classic Auto Club

29. Centra

30. Waterworks Players

31. HD “Brock” Robinson for Treasurer

32. New Life Christian Academy

33. New Life Christian Academy

34. Hampden Sydney Vol. Fire Dept.

35. Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Homes

36. Concord Baptist Church

37. Central High School Marching Chargers

38. C & B Trucking & Team Ray

39. WFLO

40. Jazzy Cheerleaders

41. Rochette's Florist

42. Farmville Area Kiwanis

43. Cumberland Magnificent Marching Dukes

44. Rockwell Audio

45. Prince Edward County Rescue Squad

46. Darelick Diesel club

47. Donna Bowman Nunnally for Treasurer

48 . PEFYA Darlings All-Stars

49. Chick-Fil-A Cow

50. Restored 1973 Murray lawn mower with 1990 dump cart

51. Farmville Girl Scouts

52. Rod & Staff

53. No Land Farm Miniature Horses

54. Riding Star 4-H Horse and Pony Club

55. Young People for Praise of the Spirit of Life Church of God in Christ

56. 1978 Ford Brush Truck (Fire Truck)

57. CF Marin Trucking, Inc.

58. Cumberland Vol. Fire Department

59. Meherrin Vol. Fire & Rescue Inc.

60. VA Smoove Rydaz

61. Allens Ambulance

62. Home Recovery – Home Aid

63. First Nottoway Baptist Church Youth Ministry

64. Marshall Womack for Treasurer

65. Cumberland NAACP Branch Queen 1st and 2nd Runner up

66. Curve Huggers Motorcycle Club

67. Prospect Volunteer Fire Dept.

68. Pamplin Fire Dept

69. St John's Lutheran Church

70. Pregnancy Support Center

71. Riverside Community Church

72. Prince Edward County Hich School Homecoming King and Queen

73. Prince Edward County High School Marching Band

74. Santa and Mrs. Claus