T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM 1. Cadiz Village Administrator Ted Andrzejewski, right, speaks during Thursday's council meeting. Village officials are planning to hold a "reverse" Christmas parade Dec. 5. Also pictured is Councilman Chase Smith.

CADIZ — The village of Cadiz plans to move forward with its annual Christmas parade, but it will look a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Village Administrator Ted Andrzejewski said the Cadiz Business Association is planning a “reverse” Christmas parade for early December.

“The way I understand this will work for Christmas is on the first Saturday in December, all the floats and everything that was in the parade will line up between the fairgrounds and Main Street and people will be driving by looking at the floats,” he said.

Christmas floats will line the roadway between the Harrison County Fairgrounds and Main Street, where residents can drive by the parade in their vehicles.

“Instead of the parade going to the people, people will come to the parade,” he said.

Santa Claus will still make an appearance, along with the high school band. Andrzejewski said both will be located at the Harrison County Courthouse for people to see.

“They’re planning on having bags of candy for the children so they can hand them out as they go by,” he said.

One side of the roadway will be closed off for those driving to view the parade, while the other lane will be left open for through traffic.

Due to the coronavirus, officials felt this would be the safest alternative as people will not be able to congregate and remain a safe distance apart, Andrzejewski said.

“This is probably the best alternative,” he said.

The stationary parade is slated for Dec. 5.

“They (Cadiz Business Association) are trying very hard to make it nice for the holiday season,” he said.

In other village news, Andrzejewski said the “Hometown Heroes” banners honoring local military veterans will be hung sometime in the next week. The banners will be displayed along Main and Market streets in the village.

All 40 of the available banners are sold, he said. There is now a waiting list for additional banners.

The banners will be displayed until late November. Once the veterans’ banners are taken down for the season, the village’s Christmas banners will be displayed.

Council will hold a special meeting tentatively set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss legislation. The village was unable to pass an emergency ordinance that would authorize the village to prepare and submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and Local Transportation Improvement programs due to two council members being absent from Thursday’s evening meeting. Councilman John Vermillion and Billy Hyde were not present at the meeting due to an unspecified emergency, leaving only four council members present.