Participants Prepare for the Easley Christmas Parade

When the theme of this year's Christmas Parade was announced, local artist Dale Stone wasn't sure what he was going to do for his studio's float. But with the help of the students at his art studio, he's certain they came up with the perfect idea.

"I can relate to it," said 13-year-old Grace Bryant.

Bryant couldn't say why she related to the float, because the float will remain a secret until Saturday morning when all entries in the Christmas parade gather at Easley High School for judging.

This will be the third float Stone has entered in the parade, and the last two years his studio took home the grand prize. 

"This is what the holidays are about to me," Stone said. "Personally, I enjoy doing this with the kids, they get a real kick out of being in the parade."

Stone and his students have been hard at work crafting all the pieces of the float during the past few weeks. 

"We've won two years in a row," said 11-year-old Noah Brock. "And from the diagram Dale drew we're gonna 'beast' it this year too." 

Vice President of Operations for DunBurks Premier Events told Patch there will be at least 60 entries in this year's parade and most of those will be floats.

The floats will be judged by Mayor Larry Bagwell and the Easley City Council Saturday morning before the start of the parade. Stone said he and his crew will be ready.

"It's fun for me to see it all come together," Stone said.

The Christmas parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Easley High School and will travel north on South Pendleton Street, west on West Main Street and south on South 1st Street back to the school.