Maverick Sutton, 5, of Hooker watches the jolly old elf parade down Main Street. This year's parade will start at 10 a.m. Friday. The theme of the 45th annual event, sponsored by CenturyLink and the Butler Eagle, is "Christmas Dreams and Wishes."

Santa Claus might be partial to having reindeer pull his sleigh, but he will arrive at this year's 45th annual Spirit of Christmas parade Friday riding in a Butler fire truck.

Also new this year is where children can talk with the Big Guy after the parade. Santa will greet children in a specially decorated room at the Butler Eagle, 114 W. Diamond St.

The annual day-after-Thanksgiving parade will begin as usual at 10 a.m., and this year's theme is "Christmas Dreams and Wishes."

In addition to Butler firefighters, many volunteer fire departments are scheduled to participate in the parade as well, including those from Greenwood Village, Lick Hill, Lyndora, Meridian, North Washington, Oneida Valley, Penn Township, Petrolia and Prospect.

Music will be heard from the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band, the Flames & Flickers and the General Butler Vagabonds.

Reviewing stands will be set up on both sides of Main Street, with one in front of Diamond Park and the other in front of the Butler County Courthouse.

Performing the duties of master of ceremonies from one of those review stands will be Ron Vodenichar, Butler Eagle general manager.

The Butler Eagle and CenturyLink are sponsoring the parade again this year.

The parade will head south on Main Street from Penn Street toward Wayne Street.

Because of the 10 a.m. start, traffic restrictions downtown will begin about 9 a.m. The CB Rangers will help police officers direct traffic.

Besides Main Street being closed, traffic will be restricted on Penn and Washington streets. Please note no spectator parking is allowed in the Emily Brittain Elementary School parking lot.Prizes for parade participants will be awarded to community groups and commercial entries.Community groups are eligible for cash awards in the categories of best overall, most original, best theme and best appearance. There also will be four honorable mentions awarded.Commercial entries will compete for first, second and third place plaques.All entrants will receive a framed certificate.After the parade, Santa's helpers will guide children to meet Santa at the Butler Eagle office, which is across from the courthouse on Diamond Street.Cookies, hot chocolate and goody bags will be handed out, and photographs with Santa will be available.The photographs, which have a fee of $5 for a single person and $7 for a family, will appear on the Butler Eagle Web site.Information about photographic reprints will be available.

Santa Claus waves to the crowd Nov. 28, 2008, during last year's Spirit of Christmas Parade in downtown Butler.