CHOCOWINITY — The yuletide season arrives a little early in Chocowinity this weekend, with a parade and holiday expo planned for Saturday.

The parade, the first of several scheduled throughout Beaufort County this Christmas season, is hosted by the Town of Chocowinity and begins at 10 a.m., according to committee member Arlene Jones.

“There will be ribbons for first, second and third place winners,” Jones said. “Hopefully this will be our largest parade ever.”

Joining Jones in planning this year’s parade are Mayor Jimmy Mobley, Police Chief Greg Garris, Rachel Wolfe, David Fields, Tommy Pendley, Brian Avery, Curtis Avery, Greg Purser, Lisa Ingalls, Todd Alligood and Charlie Elks.

There is no entry fee for the event. Anyone interested in entering a float may pick up an application at the Chocowinity Town Hall or go online to www.townofchocowinity.com. Parade entrants should line-up adjacent to Chocowinity Middle School between 8 and 9 a.m. Floats will be judged at 9:45 a.m.

Santa Claus will make his traditional appearance atop a Chocowinity fire truck, joining a processional that will include entries by local churches, schools, businesses and civic groups. Vintage tractors and classic automobiles are expected, as well.

Saturday will be a busy day in Chocowinity, with the fire department auxiliary hosting its annual holiday expo. That event begins at 7 a.m. with a fundraising pancake breakfast benefiting Angels N Camo, according to auxiliary president Regina Elks. Booths will also open at that time, affording shoppers an opportunity to purchase unique Christmas gifts. The expo runs until 1 p.m.

Vendors will sell a little bit of everything, according to Elks. Among the items available will be jewelry, homemade crafts, Christmas decorations, jams and jellies and other gift ideas. The congregation of St. James CME Church in Chocowinity will hold its holiday bake sale with a delicious bounty of cakes, pies and cookies to tempt shoppers during the expo, and photos with Santa are scheduled from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

“This is a good way for the community to come out and start the Christmas season off,” Elks said. “The proceeds go to help purchase items needed for the fire department.”

Beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at the fire department, Southside High School’s Beta Club will sell barbecued chicken plates. In addition to the chicken leg quarters, each plate will include green beans, stewed potatoes, bread and a dessert. Plates will be available for $8 each; proceeds will be used for various Beta Club activities.

Prospective vendors interested in renting booth space may contact Elks at 252-945-0601 or reginaelks@hotmail.com.

After this weekend’s jumpstart on the holidays, the folks at Raised in a Barn Farm east of Chocowinity will have their Christmas festivities in full swing. Final arrangements are still being made, but the celebration will be held throughout the holiday season and will include hayrides through Christmas lights, cocoa and cookies with Santa, story time and craft projects. Photo sessions with Santa are also part of this year’s festivities.

For more information, visit the farm’s Facebook page or call 252-945-6153 or 252-945-3398.

Tar Heel Variety Theater, located west of Chocowinity, will continue its tradition of welcoming the holiday season with Tar Heel Christmas shows, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12. Performers will include Nicky Harris, Dana Lewis, Brian Williamson, Angie Lewis, Nikki and Landon Lewis, Mark Gray, Willie Nelms and Jack Crawley. Special guests include Jonathan Sawyer, winner of the theater’s fall talent competition, and Santa Claus himself.

For more information, or to reserve seats, call 252-975-2117 or visit www.tarheelvarietytheater.com.