The first weekend of December will be a busy one for Walker County residents as the Christmas season officially gets under way.

Events range from the Journey Through Bethlehem to Christmas parades in Huntsville and New Waverly and the Rotary Club’s auction and concert.

The fourth annual Journey Through Bethlehem opens the weekend’s activities Friday at the Walker County Fairgrounds.

The birthplace of Jesus Christ is re-created with blacksmith shops, camels roaming the streets, Roman Centurions and a nativity scene complete with a real baby standing in for Jesus.

Leslie Michaelson, Journey Through Bethlehem creator and committee chair, said the event will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Admission is 50 cents per person. All proceeds will cover the fee to rent the fairgrounds.

Two parades are scheduled for Saturday in addition to the Rotary Club’s fundraiser.

The New Waverly Lions Club’s Christmas parade starts at noon.

Floats and participants for the parade line up at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the library. There is no entry fee.

New Waverly High School’s DECA club will also sponsor a Christmas Wonderland in the library following the parade.

For parade information, phone Jim Groves at (936) 435-0440, or Becky Kolb about library events at (936) 344-2084.

Chairman Ron Lange expects at least 50 entries to line up for the Huntsville club’s “Holiday Festival Parade” starting at 6 p.m.

Lange said entries will be accepted “until the very last minute. We will have members stationed in the university parking lots north of Avenue J and Sam Houston Avenue.

“They will accept applications as well as fill them out.”

“We have received quite a few applications,” Lange said Wednesday, “but traditionally, they wait until the very last minute. It looks like we’re going to have a beautiful evening for the parade.”

The entry fee is $30, including a $5 late fee.

Prior to Saturday, entry forms can be dropped off at the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce office until 5 p.m.

For groups of vehicles over five within one organization, the fee is $5 per vehicle.

Lange, who has been involved with the parade for the past 27 years, said the Lions Club will donate entry fees to charities in Huntsville and Walker County.

The parade will travel north on Sam Houston Avenue to 11th Street, then west on 11th Street and finish at the intersection of 11th and state Highway 75.

A highlight of the parade will be Santa Claus throwing the switch to lights on a 35-foot Christmas tree at the county courthouse, lights decorating the courthouse and 50 lamp posts in the downtown area.

The Trail of Lights Committee oversees the lighting project.

For more information on the parade, phone the chamber office at (936) 295-8113.

The Rotary Club’s first “Holiday Gala Concert Fundraiser” at Town Theatre follows the parade.

A silent auction and reception opens the event at 5 p.m. at Richmond Hall next to the theater.

Concert seating starts at 7:45 p.m.in the theater and the concert begins at 8, featuring the Huntsville Men's Choir, Belle Chanson women's singing group, Gary Hood and the Millright Quartet.

A ticket to the concert will be required to attend the social hour.

Tickets are $20 per person and are available at Advantage Travel and at the door the night of the concert.

Only 300 tickets are available for the concert and social hour.

Funds from the concert and social event benefit the YMCA Teen Center and the Community Child Care Center.

Ticket holders can also win cash prizes of $250, $150 and $100. The cash drawings will be held at intermission of the concert.

For information, phone Laura Floyd at (936) 291-8030.

The weekend’s events close out with the Rita B. Huff Humane Society Christmas party and silent auction from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Katy and E. Don Walker Education Center, 1402 19th Street.

Proceeds benefit the animal shelter. For more information, phone Marjolein Lemmon at (936) 295-4666.