Lilburn celebrated Christmas early with its annual parade taking place on Dec. 1, 2012.

There were some 100 entries in the parade, including Cub Scouts packs, Girl Scouts troops, the Parkview High School band, the Gwinnett Braves, local businesses, schools, churches, Santa, the city's mayor, and more.

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Bryan Shepard, owner/operator of the Lilburn Chick-Fil-A, served as Grand Marshal. WSB's David Chandley emceed the event. The Lilburn Business Association (LBA) organized the parade.

As part of a grand finale, Santa's elf jumped into Lilburn City Park from a plane and to the delight of squeeling and clapping children.

Another part of the parade festivities this year was a canned food collection, and by the end of the day, LBA officials said that they collected about 4,000 cans for the Lilburn Co-op.

Last year, LBA donated just 300 cans.

Those groups that collected and donated the most cans this year will receive monetary awards. Those winners were:

• Band Category: Parkview High marching band
• Other School Affiliated Category: Meadowcreek theater department
• Nonprofit Category: Mountain Park Athletic Association