The Children’s Day Parade lineup for this morning has 57 participants listed to take part in the 2008 parade.

Parade chair Ben Sherrod said there may be some last-minute changes, additions or no-shows, but is sure that this parade will be one for everyone to enjoy.

The weather is expected to be clear and 48 degrees when the parade begins at 11:30 a.m. The nighttime river parade is expected to be clear and 40 degrees when it starts at 6:30 p.m., dropping to 35 degrees by 8:30 p.m.

Leading off the 2008 Children’s Day Parade will be the Demopolis High School Junior ROTC color guard, followed by this year’s grand marshal, Jason Smith of the Kansas City Royals. After that, a Demopolis fire truck will lead in the Christmas on the River lead float, followed by cheerleaders from Demopolis Middle School and Demopolis High School and the DHS band.

The Collins Communications entry follows the band, then Bama Auto, followed by the Saint Nicholas float, featuring this year’s Saint Nicholas, Ann Parsons. The Demopolis youth football 7-8-year-olds team follows that, along with the Marvin’s entry, the John Essex School cheerleaders, John Essex Head Start, the Fitz-Gerald clinic entry, the Demopolis Cruisers, Curves and the Marion Military Institute White Knights.

The Little Miss Christmas on the River float follows that, then the Demopolis youth football 9-10-year-olds team, the New Life Church Doves of Fire, the Theo Ratliff Activity Center, the A.L. Johnson High School dance team, the Heavenly Angels Daycare, the Michael Claunch entry and Val’s Sharing and Caring Daycare.

The Suttles entry follows that, along with the Linden High School band, the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Ross Taekwondo Academy, the Coatopa-Belmont Fire Department, the V.C.R., Diva’s 4 Lyfe and the float of this year’s Civitan Special Child, “Shay-Shay” Raby, a second-grader at Westside Elementary School.

The Bigbee Humane Society entry follows that, then the Cub Scouts, Charles Robinson, Gaineswood Belles, the Old Woman in the Shoe float (one of five new constructions this year), the Deep Bone Cruisers, Ladies of the Millennium, Centre Stage Performance Arts and the Demopolis youth football 11-12-year-olds team, which advanced to the state title game this year in Tuscaloosa after winning the Southern Division.

After that, the Corps of Engineers entry follows, along with the Tommy Deas entry, the Miss Christmas on the River float and the March of Dimes Ambassador Child, Windham Lee. The Al-Muqit No. 221 Shriner Temple entry follows that, then the Faunsdale Fire Department, the Alabama Pipes and Drums, the Christmas on the River train float, the George Franks entry, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Miss University of West Alabama, the UWA cheerleaders, the UWA band and last — but certainly not least — the Santa Claus float.