Applications are being accepted for entries in the Columbia County Merchants Association’s 45th annual Martinez-Evans Christmas Parade.

The parade will be begin at 2 p.m. Dec. 6, said parade chairman Billy Franke, and this year will follow a slightly modified route than in recent years.

Participants again this year will gather at the Evans Town Center Park behind Kroger in Evans. Instead of traveling along Ronald Reagan Drive to Washington Road, moving east to then turn south onto Belair Road, this year’s parade will begin along Town Center Drive, Mr. Franke said.

Once reaching Washington Road, the parade then will travel only a short distance along Washington Road before turning south on North Belair and ending at Bel Air Elementary School, Mr. Franke said.

The deadline for entries in the parade is Nov. 20. Applications and parade rules are available at www.columbiacountyfair.net.

The parade takes place the day after Columbia County’s Christmas in America Festival, which begins at 3 p.m. at the Columbia County Amphitheater and culminates in the lighting of the county’s Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m.