Parades, events celebrate Christmas

Get into the Christmas Spirit! The Milam County cities of Milano, Thorndale, Cameron and Rockdale are hosting downtown Christmas parades and events today.
Milano’s event starts with line-up at 9:15 a.m. at the Milano football field with the first vehicle rolling out at 10:30 a.m. Parade categories include: best overall, small animals, floats, bicycle/walking/marching, vehicles/tractors, small motorized/battery operated (go-carts, four-wheelers, lawnmowers, etc.) and horses/wagons.
Theme for the Milano parade is “Jingle All the Way” and winners will be announced following the parade during the annual free Christmas meal held at the Milano Civic Center - where Santa will be on hand. All the events are sponsored by the City of Milano.
The Thorndale Area Chamber of Commerce parade gets under way at 1:30 p.m. Saturday as part of an annual downtown event that also features the Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair, Santa photos and silent auction. Activities continue all afternoon in downtown Thorndale.
Downtown festivities are also planned by the Cameron Chamber of Commerce, with vendor booths opening at 4:30 p.m. and the lighted parade beginning at 5 p.m. Theme for the Cameron parade is “A Storybook Christmas.” On the decorated downtown mall, there will be food booths, seasonal music and photos with Santa Claus (bring your own camera) - all designed to help recapture the childhood Christmas spirit with lights, music and holiday decorations.
Chamber Secretary Charlotte Wyatt says more vendors are signed up this year to offer a wide variety of foods and beverages as well as arts and crafts. Local non profit groups will be selling hot chocolate, popcorn, funnel cakes, sodas, water, sausage wraps, cotton candy, cup cakes and Yoe Salsa. 
Starting with Breakfast with Santa at the Patterson Center from 7:30 to 10 a.m., The Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the annual Milam County Christmas Festival Saturday. Christmas shopping at Wolf Park features vendors open from noon to 6 p.m. Christmas at the Depot from 4 to 6 p.m. features Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The annual downtown lighted Christmas parade starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tree of Angels
Also coming up is the Tree of Angels ceremony sponsored by the Milam County and District Attorney’s Office. This year’s ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Milam County Museum, 112 West First Street, downtown Cameron.
The “Tree of Angels” program is celebrated each year across Texas and enables survivors of violent crime and victims’ families to place an angel ornament on a special Christmas tree in support of or in memory of their loved one. This tradition was started in 1991 in hopes that the blessings of the holiday season would comfort the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Members of the armed services will also be remembered and honored. All military families are invited to attend and place an angel on the tree in honor of or in remembrance of their loved one.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony to show their support. Participants are asked to bring an angel ornament tagged with the first and last name of the person to be remembered or honored. Those who are unable to attend and would like an angel placed on the Tree of Angels in honor or in memory of a loved one may contact Trish Vargas at (254) 697-7013 or send an email to tvargas@milamcounty.net for more information.
Refreshments will be served at the conclusion the program. Donations can be made to the Tree of Angels Account at Buckholts State Bank in Cameron, Buckholts or Rogers to assist with program expenses..

Brown Santa
The Milam County Sheriff’s Office Brown Santa Program is under way.
In addition to accepting donations, the MCSO is taking applications from those Milam County residents who would like to take advantage of the Brown Santa program. 
Applicants are asked to bring a Medicaid card or a WIC cards with the child (s) name on it, a current utility bill, a birth certificate or children enrolled in school must present a current report card, parents / guardians must have valid Texas identification.
Applications can be picked up at the MCSO.
Anyone interested in donating new, unwrapped, toys can bring them to the Sheriff’s office, 512 N. Jefferson, Cameron, TX 254-697-7033 ask for Mrs. Adam or Captain Douglas.  
A Brown Santa account has been set up at Classic Bank for monetary donations.
Contributions may also be mailed to Brown Santa/ Wynema Adams, 512 North Jefferson Suite A, Cameron, TX 76520.