CHESTER - The City of Chester will be transformed into CandyLand on Dec. 5.

The Chester Hometown Committee has announced that this year's Christmas parade theme will be "CandyLand Christmas: Gumdrops and Lollipops," based on the Hasbro-owned game of the same name.

The theme was announced shortly after the committee received permission from Hasbro to use the CandyLand name.

According to committee member Susan Harless, everything for the date, from the parade to the window decorating contest, is beginning to fall into place.

The lineup for the parade is scheduled to begin at the corner of First Street and Virginia Avenue at 1 p.m., with the parade itself to follow at 2 p.m. This year's Grand Marshal will be Frank's Pastry.

Several other events are scheduled for Dec. 5 in addition to the parade, Harless said, thanks to places such as American Legion Post 121, VFW Post 6450, the Chester Lions Club, Lynn Murray Memorial Library, and many others.

The day kicks off at 9 a.m. at the library, when children will have a chance to eat breakfast with Santa. Also beginning at 9 a.m. that day are two craft shows, one at the library, which runs until 3 p.m., and one sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion, which will run until 4 p.m. at Post 121.

After breakfast with Santa, children are invited to walk to the gazebo next to the VFW to tell the man in red what they want for Christmas. Children will also have the opportunity to meet the Gingerbread Girl.

Beginning at noon, children may play bingo at the VFW, sponsored by the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, or check out the many vendors, which will line Carolina Avenue, with their parents.

Vendors for the day include the Lions Club among many others, which will have food and drink as well as raffles available for those in attendance from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The parade will finish out the big day, with the exception of the two craft shows.

On Dec. 1, the judging of the window decorating contest will take place at 6 p.m. All window decorators must contact Harless to enter and must follow the parade's CandyLand theme.

For more information on the events scheduled for Dec. 5, to enter the contest, or to sign up to participate in the parade, contact Harless at 304-387-3331.