For those of us who venture outside to our cars early in the morning, there’s little doubt that we’re on the cusp of winter.

There’s a sharp bite in the air, which means it’s time for the holiday season.

The holiday season in Demopolis is special because it means the onset of Christmas on the River, which has become one of the state’s largest and most widely recognized holiday festivals.

The Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce will host a series of Christmas on the River Day Parade Workshops each Monday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. until noon, each Tuesday and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. until noon and again from 5:30pm until 8:30pm. A day-long workshop will be held today from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The workshops will be held at the COTR Warehouse located behind the old police station in Demopolis (corner of Walnut and Fulton) and are provided to teach volunteers how to build new floats and repair existing ones for the Day Parade, to be held on Saturday, Dec. 6.

I’ve heard about this festival for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been down here to see it a few times before I moved here this year.

Last year, I was here to compete in the barbeque cook off and I will certainly be here again this year. All the elements of Christmas on the River really work well together to attract a wide variety of people with varying interests.

Of course, the cornerstone of this event is the parade itself.

The Chamber encourages area businesses to send groups of workers to the workshops so that they may learn proper building techniques for their floats for the 2008 parade, which will once again include float competitions.

First and second place prizes will be awarded in several categories, including business, private and costume. Any kind of help is needed and appreciated.

Nothing is better than a good, spirited competition and I look forward to seeing it all unfold in just a few weeks.

For more information, please contact the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce at 289.0270.

Jason Cannon is the publisher of the Demopolis Times.