BY MARCELLE HANEMANN

The Daily News

The city of Bogalusa has a community tradition of coming together on Thanksgiving evening to kindle the magic of the Christmas season.

That starts at 5 p.m. with a family-style parade, which powerfully sets the mood because the participating individuals and their modes of transport are wrapped in colorful strings of lights.

The Parade of Lights ends up at Cassidy Park where millions of additional lights are brought to life with the official opening of Christmas in the Park.

Now, Mayor Charles Mizell and the City Council are asking local home and business owners, schools, churches and civic organizations to help transform the city into a life-sized living Christmas village to let the spirit of the “Magic City” radiate in time for that official opening of the season.

City leaders encourage everyone to “start the season right, right here at home” by lighting their homes, vehicles and businesses to help “make this the biggest Christmas season ever” in Bogalusa.

People are encouraged to string Christmas lights and to also hang wreaths, put up manger scenes and any other decorations to make the landscape merry and magical both night and day.

Artists and anybody else who would like to help transform the Columbia Street Square for the holiday are invited to join Mainstreet Manager Robin Day on-site today. If anybody has spare Christmas decorations that could help fill the space they should bring them along, she said.

People are also urged to take advantage of the special bargains offered by local stores the day after Thanksgiving, “Black Friday,” when folks who catch wooden nickels at the parade can start off with a $10 discount.

For additional information, contact Day at 750-4054 or Kay Kay Varnado at 516-3231.