NORCO — The first Sunday in December is the official kick-off of the Christmas season in the River Parishes. It’s the day Santa Claus arrives by helicopter on top the levee and joins a parade that unites the entire community.

This year’s Norco Christmas Parade will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at River Road and Washington Street. The procession of approximately 70 bands, marching groups and floats will travel to Good Hope, turn onto Sixth Street and conclude at the Norco Christmas tree on Apple Street.

At that time, children are invited to take free photos with Santa.

The Master’s Touch drumming group shows off their skills on parade.The theme for this year’s parade is “Norco Noel: Norco Through the Years,” and it will be reflected in the floats and costumes that call back to various decades.

The Norco Christmas Parade originally rolled from the 1950s until the early 1980s, when it was discontinued. In 2001, Norco native Stephen Weber and other community members took the initiative to revive the event for current and future generations to cherish. Weber is now president of the Norco Civic Association Holiday Committee that oversees the annual parade.

“I grew up in Norco, and we still have a large number of people who have been living in Norco all their lives and remember the Norco Christmas parade that went defunct some time in the early 80s,” Weber said. “It was a wonderful time in those days and even today. I think what the parade shows is the strong sense of community and family values that Norco has. Now that people are coming from all around to see it, they get to see how good it is to live in Norco.”

Lori Lyons has been part of the Norco Civic Association since the parade was reinstated in 2001. She said the Norco Christmas Parade shows the community in a positive light, noting it is important to show others Norco is more than just “that chemical plant town.”

According to Lyons, Norco is a community where everybody knows everybody. It’s the kind of place where your family pets get loose and the school bus driver is able to recognize them and bring them home safely. When the parade rolls in December, family and friends gather to throw festive house parties along the route.

However, the Christmas Parade’s impact is not confined to Norco.

“Everybody comes out, and people really work together,” Lyons said. “The first couple we had were really small with just people from Norco. We finally got people from outside of Norco to participate, like Riverside Academy and East St. John. It’s a great showcase for what everybody is doing at the schools, and it’s a lot of fun.”

West St. John Elementary, LaPlace Elementary, Riverside, East St. John and the Master’s Touch Drumline of LaPlace are among the St. John Parish groups taking part this year, according to Lyons. The St. John Parish Animal Shelter will present adoptable animals in the parade for the second consecutive year.

The lineup also features many dance teams, fire trucks and Christmas floats. A final float operated by the St. Charles Parish ARC will allow attendees to recycle their beads by throwing them back.

Santa Claus, portrayed by Russ Wise of LaPlace, will start a new Norco Christmas Parade tradition this year. In addition to waving to families along the route, Santa Claus will also throw commemorative red, blue and green doubloons.

While the 610 Stompers will not be able to make it this year due to a conflict in returning home from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, there are plenty of parade participants in the line up to keep the excitement going.

Lyons is excited to announce the Norco Civic Association has just acquired the property surrounding the Norco Christmas tree. In the next year, the area will see a facelift with the addition of benches and other decorations to make a quaint community square.

Roads will close at approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday, 30 minutes before the start of the parade.