It's going

to be a busy weekend for Northgate High School parents and students.

Friday night,

many Vikings boosters will make the 130-mile trip to Americus to watch

Northgate battle Americus in Class AA football action. The winner advances

to next week's semifinals at the Georgia Dome.

After what

is sure to be a late night in Americus, many bleary-eyed parents will

make the drive Saturday morning to Atlanta to watch the Northgate band

participate in the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade.

This year's

dazzling holiday parade features:

Thirteen award-winning

marching bands from across the Southeast, including Georgia, Alabama and

South Carolina.

Adorable dogs

dressed in their finest holiday attire.

Sleek classic

cars.

Celebrity guest

appearances.

Spectacular

dance groups.

Colorful holiday

themed and animated floats.

Giant helium

balloons.

Energetic

cheerleaders from Southeast universities.

Hundreds of

happy clowns.

And the grand

finale Santa Claus!

The parade

steps off at Centennial Olympic Park at International Boulevard and Marietta

Street at 10:30 a.m., proceeds east on Marietta, turns north on Peachtree

Street, and ends at Peachtree and West Peachtree streets.