Visitors and residents converged on Manassas streets as early as 8 a.m. Saturday in anticipation for the Greater Manassas Christmas Parade.

Manassas resident Jackie Scott grew up in Manassas and so did her mother. Her daughter, Sarah, is now a freshman at Osbourn High School and a member of the Screaming Eagles Color Guard, which performed in Saturday's parade.

Scott was at her regular spot along Center Street across from the Old Town Sports Pub by 8 a.m. Saturday, but she recalled watching the parade from the old Ashby Jewelers location closer to City Hall when she was a child.

The parade comprised of 100 units began at 10 a.m. from Mathis Avenue near Liberia before it wound its way through Old Town, coming to an end two hours later on Peabody Street.

The Manassas shopping Center along Mathis Avenue was transformed into a staging area for marching bands, including Manassas Park High School, Osbourn Park High School, Patriot High School, Osbourn Senior High School and even the Redskins Marching Band.

Greg Rodgers is the percussion coordinator for the Redskins Marching Band and has participated in the Manassas event since 1991. He said the Manassas parade is the only Christmas parade the group is apart of.

"We love the musicianship, being in the parade and the Redskins," Rodgers said.

Christmas Parade Chair John Martin said the reason behind this year's parade theme, 'Christmas Remembered' was the return of members from the New York Fire Department after 10 years. Twenty-one members of the NYFD came to Manassas for the parade in 2001—just months after the terrorists attacks.

"We've invited them back and they are here with us today and it was just sort of fitting," Martin said.

Check out the video and add your own 2011 parade photos to the photogallery!