The forecast from the National Weather Service for Monday evening shows an 80 percent chance of rain, which could postpone the annual Oxford Lion’s Club Annual Christmas Parade.

Parade chairman Drew Windham said organizers will make the decision whether to delay the parade before noon on Monday.

“If we delay the parade, I will personally call everyone that has turned in an application, contact local newspapers, contact the local radio stations, contact the city and contact the local schools,” Windham said.

Windham said if the parade, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, is delayed due to weather, the plan is to hold the parade on Tuesday evening. According to the NWS, there is only a 20 percent chance of rain Tuesday night.

Applications to be in the parade are being accepted up until noon on Dec. 5. While there is no fee to be a part of the parade, registration is required to be considered for awards.

Should Mother Nature decide to be nice, the line-up or parade participants will start at 5:30 p.m. Monday, leaving Mid-Town Shopping Center on North Lamar Boulevard. The parade will travel south on North Lamar to the Square, half way around and continue south on South Lamar Boulevard, and then west on University Avenue and end at the Gertrude Ford Performing Arts Center.

Floats will be judged as the parade leaves Mid-Town Shopping Center and prized will be awarded to first, second and third place as well as Best Unique Vehicle and Best Live Performance Group.

Winners will be announced in the Oxford EAGLE the following day and trophies can be picked up at the Chamber.

Windham said people should mindful of the parking and traffic near the Mid-Town Shopping Center while floats and other participants are lining up.

“We just wanted to make sure the public was reminded that parking can be very hectic, and will most likely fill up quickly,” he said. “This greatly affects the parents dropping small children off to participate with different local groups. We recommend that they carpool and arrive early. They would be well served to carpool with a second parent to walk the children from the vehicle to the float area, in case there is no more parking available.

“We cannot allow people to park where they would block the flow of traffic inside the parking lot, this is always a big issue.”

Visit www.oxfordms.com to complete the application or call 662-816-3739 for more information.

Two other Christmas parades are scheduled to roll on Saturday with the annual Water Valley parade set for 1 p.m. and the Taylor Christmas Parade slated for 3 p.m.