PARIS – The Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s theme for the 27th Annual Christmas Parade will be “Winter Wonderland.”

The theme was chosen from more than two dozen entries received by the Christmas Parade Committee, and as Deb Partridge, Chamber president and chairwomanr of the committee commented, “All of the suggested themes were terrific and appropriate, but “Winter Wonderland” seemed to fit this year’s parade perfectly because of the emphasis on the World’s Largest Snow Shoe, which will be on display in the parade.”

The parade, considered to be the largest in Maine with more than 70 floats and participants, always takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, attracting thousands of people from around the western and central region of the state. This year the parade is set to begin at 11a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29.

The parade, according to Chamber Executive Director John Williams, is open to any business, nonprofit, civic organization or school group. Registration forms for float entries can be obtained at the Chamber Office and Information Center at 213 Main St. in South Paris, between Bessey Motors and Littlefield Florist and Greenhouse. Awards and banners will be given to winners in three categories, large and small business, and nonprofit.

Williams went on to say that, “The reason we start promoting the parade now is because of the numerous requests we have been receiving here at the Chamber for the theme since early in July. This is a very important event in our communities and the people who work on these floats take this very seriously and need the time to plan. So, getting the word our early about the theme is critical!”

In addition to the numerous local participants, fire, rescue and law enforcement units from the surrounding towns will be in the parade, along with the Kora Temple Log Rollers mini truck unit, the high school and middle school bands, and the Silver Dolphins Marching Drill Team from the Groton, Conn., Naval Base.