Before you head out for the 83rd annual Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade on Sunday, you may want to take note of some changes, and the weather.
Meteorologists predict the high will be 56 degrees Sunday, and there is a 30 percent chance of showers.
As far as changes go, this year's route has been cut short because of construction on the Texas A&M University campus. As a result, there will be 80 parade entries instead of the usual 120.
Ben Downs, who has played Santa Claus in the parade for 28 years, said the biggest complaint residents have about the parade each year is the length of it.
He said that's why -- in addition to the fewer entries that were accepted this year -- officials decided participants who perform in the parade would not be allowed to stop.
"We're going to try this and see if we can't get rid of the gaps and make the parade quicker," Downs said. "Keeping young children in one place for several hours is always a challenge for families."
Unlike other years, no mounted units will be allowed in the parade, Downs said. Half of the entries will be floats, and others include youth and community organizations.
Lt. Greg Leeth of the College Station Police Department said because of the large crowd expected, children should be supervised at all times as a safety precaution.
"Parents who bring their children should be mindful and have a plan," he said. "Don't let your kids run into the street, and make sure to contain children."
The parade will start at 2 p.m. at University Drive and Polo Road, make its way to Texas Avenue heading north toward Bryan, and will end at the Tejas Center.
Leeth said police would begin blocking off roads at 1:30 p.m. and traffic traveling westbound on University at Texas would be detoured south.
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