Linden will celebrate their Christmas celebration, ChiLLy Fest, on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 this year at ChiLLy Fest Park, with the Miss Central Alabama Model ChiLLy Fest Pageant taking place on Nov. 5 at Marengo Academy Gym at 3 p.m.

The Chili Cookers Party! will start off the festivities on Dec. 8 from 8-11 p.m. At the same time, partygoers can enjoy a free concert performed by The Emulators, who play a mix of country, rock and R&B to satisfy a variety of musical tastes.

On Dec. 9, local food and arts and crafts vendors will set up shop from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., with some food vendors remaining afterwards and others going to the Gazebo for the parade and fireworks display.

“[The] public loves it. They come out and it brings everyone together,” said Bruce Ward, Events Coordinator for ChiLLy Fest.

Christmas Music will be playing from 10-2 a.m. as part of a live broadcast from WIN 98.5, and the ChiLLy Fest Cruise In Car Show will be held at the Court House Parking Lot from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Judging for the Chili and Cornbread Cook Off will begin at 11 a.m., and the public will be able to enjoy the entries at noon.

The Christmas Parade of Lights will take place at 6:30 p.m. with the Fireworks Extravaganza!!! shortly following the parade. There is no fee to enter the parade, and the best float wins $100. This year’s parade theme is “Christmas at Grandmas”.

The Christmas Carnival will be held on both days. T-shirts will be on sale by “the end of this month or the start of next month.”

Ward invites the entire county to join the fun.

“Everyone in the whole area is welcome … it’s not only a Linden event; it’s a county event,” Ward said.

The deadlines for food vendors and arts and crafts vendors are Nov. 22 and Dec. 4 respectively. The deadlines for the pageant and the cook-off are Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 respectively. The parade and car show have no deadline.

Participants or sponsors can contact Bruce Ward at 295-5051 ext. 1. For questions about the cook-off, please contact Carlos Danner at 334-212-9989. For questions about the car show, please contact Danny Schroder at 295-5058.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, October 11 issue of the Demopolis Times.)