We are just a few weeks away from the biggest week in Demopolis. Christmas on the River, the annual festival that has become a cultural draw for the City of the People is approaching and still needs…well…people.

The planning committee has logged countless hours already, but making the festival everything it envisions will require a rush of volunteers.

The committee is still meeting on Tuesday evenings in order to touch up existing floats and put together a new float it hopes to unveil this year.

Committee chairperson Jennifer Roemen expressed that there still exists a considerable need for volunteers at the COTR warehouse, as well as for pontoon boats and drivers for the river floats. There are also a number of other areas in which help is needed to make the event happen.

While COTR offers a great chance to draw individuals to Demopolis, it also provides our community a unique opportunity to pull together and invest in an event of which we can all be proud.

Demopolis will experience a financial upswing during Christmas on the River. It is a positive thing for the city as a whole. But pulling it off successfully absolutely mandates a community-wide effort.

Perhaps the best part of the work that goes into the event is that it is entirely without prejudice. There is work to be done by individuals of all ages and talents.

The people who make the event possible can be as eclectic as the events themselves.

And the feeling that accompanies the knowledge of having helped execute such an event is immeasurable.

So, try to find your giving spirit a little early this season. Whether it’s 30 minutes or three hours or longer, the Christmas on the River crew could use your help making it all happen.

To help prepare floats, be at the COTR warehouse on Tuesday evenings between 6 and 9. To help in another capacity, contact committee chairperson Jennifer Roemen.

Jeremy D. Smith is the sports editor of the Demopolis Times