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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

A few days before Christmas, the Maplesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department held its annual Christmas parade throughout the streets and neighborhoods of Maplesville to spread Christmas cheer.

The goal of the parade every year accomplished that, and while doing so, honored a past member of the department. Nancy Seales, #559, was a member of the Maplesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department for 33 years. The 2024 edition of the parade honored her memory.

“The parade was awesome, and we do it to boost community morale,” Queen Morrow, Secretary Treasurer of the Maplesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, said. “We try to do it every year just to bring a little cheer to our residents in the community.”

This year’s parade saw 10 different departments participate, as well as appearances from Santa Claus and Smokey the Bear. The parade began lining up at Maplesville High School before making its way down Highway 139 to Highway 22 and then onto County Road 10. The parade made trips down Maple Drive, Shanks Drive, down to Marion Bank on Highway 22, to Shepard Hill Road and then ended back at MHS. The parade came through the areas and neighborhoods with over a dozen emergency vehicles with their lights and sirens glowing and blaring.

“We want to give back to the residents and bring some Christmas cheer to those who are homebound or cannot get out — at least they could get to their windows or front lawns as we come through,” Morrow said.

The department started the parade tradition during the COVID-19 pandemic to spread Christmas cheer while people were so isolated from each other. Every year since, the department has hosted the parade that meanders through Maplesville and its neighborhoods.

Along with the parade each holiday season, MVFRD buys fruit from Maplesville and Isabella High Schools each December and packages fruit bags with fresh fruit and candy, then delivers them to homebound and elderly residents in communities around Maplesville. Morrow said some residents get spooked seeing the rescue vehicles pull up without calling them, but it is all about one thing.

“There is no emergency, just spreading Christmas cheer,” Morrow said.

The departments who participated in the parade this year included the Alabama Forestry Commission, Brierfield Volunteer Fire Department, Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Isabella Volunteer Fire Department, Maplesville Police Department, North Chilton Volunteer Fire Department, Regional Paramedic Services, South Chilton Volunteer Fire Department and West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department.