Clermont will ring in Christmas this Saturday when it is host of its first-ever Christmas parade.

While the fall’s Clermont Days parade has classic cars and antique tractors, Christmas parade organizers have been soliciting local businesses to come out with floats for this parade.

“Weve got floats from different churches, and we have DECA at North Hall High School, and we have the Key Club from North Hall and from Chestatee and the Gainesville pilot’s club,” said Emily Harper, who, along with John Brady, has been working to get the parade off the ground.

There will also be a float from the Vietnam Veterans of America, she added, and Marines collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program will be marching as well. Admission to march in the parade is a donated toy, Harper said, and they will be accepting parade additions on Saturday as well.

There will also be an appearance by the North Hall marching band, horses and a visit from Santa Claus.

The parade route will follow the same route used by the Clermont Days parade, with the staging area just off U.S. 129 in the parking lot of Strickland Funeral Home. Following the parade, local church choirs will gather in the Clermont town center park and sing carols. There will be cookies and hot chocolate available, and barbecue sandwiches for sale.

“I’m just so excited,” Harper said. “I’ve had people calling me from all different parts of Hall County wanting to know about it and what they have to do to get in it. I feel like it’s getting the people of Clermont and Hall County out ... We’re having a birthday party for Jesus.”