NORWAY — The U.S. Navy’s Silver Dolphins drill team and honor guard will march in the Oxford Hills Christmas Parade again this year.

John Williams, executive director of the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event, told the Board of Selectmen at its Thursday night meeting that the team from the United States Naval Submarine School in New London, Conn., accepted the invitation.

“We are extremely excited about that,” Williams said. The team marched in the parade years ago.

Members of the prestigious group are all volunteers who have a class GPA of 80 percent or higher. They perform about 20 times a month around the country.

The 37th annual parade will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, in Norway and proceed down Main Street and on to Paris.

Williams also spoke to the board about plans to start the parade this year in Norway instead of Paris. The idea surfaced because of staging problems in Paris with the large number of floats and organizations participating.

Williams and Norway police Chief Rob Federico said residents in the Whitman, Pearl and Summer streets area will be notified individually of the plans. Federico said he plans to have his officers knock on doors to explain what they can expect as the streets fill with Christmas floats and people.

Work on the event began in August when calls started to come in from local businesses and organizations looking for information.

The theme is “Christmas Characters and Critters.” Williams said the chamber is looking forward to what people come up with for float ideas.

The second annual Festival of Trees will be held Nov. 23-25 at the Four Seasons Function Hall on Route 26 in Paris.

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