Time to add a color to the scheme so often associated with Christmas.

Slide over, Red and Green. Maroon is crashing the party.

The Warriors state finalist football team will be marching in Friday's Christmas Parade in downtown Havre de Grace. The Warriors will play Dunbar at noon Saturday for the Class 1A state championship at M&T Bank Stadium.

Friday's parade, to which the Warriors were a late addition, will mark the final opportunity for a public send-off before the team plays in its first state final in 22 years.

"I think its great," said Brigitte Peters, the Marketing and Tourism manager for the City of Havre de Grace. "I grew up in a small town that did this for its football teams every year. I think it will be building the support for them to take with them to the stadium and really know that the City of Havre de Grace backs them."

The parade begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the American Legion and will feature the Havre de Grace High and Middle schools bands, and the high school chorus. Groups in the parade include the parks and recreation cheerleaders, the Girls Scout Troops of Havre de Grace, the Spencer Silver Mansion's "Vision of Sugar Plums" and a lighted replica of the Lantern Queen.

The Greater Grace Church Choir will perform on the corner of Franklin and St. John streets. Juliette Moore and friends will sing Celtic and Christmas music at the tree on Rochambeau Plaza. Santa's workshop has been set up at 115 N. Washington Street, where the Havre de Grace chorus and Girl Scouts will be singing.

The Susquehanna Hose Company will escort Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the football team.

The news is just the latest in a string of public support for the Warriors football program, which secured its place in Saturday's championship by defeating Brunswick, 34-14, Friday at James R. Harris Stadium.

Friday's crowd was arguably the largest of the season for the Warriors, who hosted two network television camera crews—one of which chose the state semifinal in Havre de Grace after fans voted online.

Havre de Grace fans in town decorated the Lafayette statue in a team-signed "Go Warriors" t-shirt.

Anderson Bus Company, Inc. has offered free bus trips to and from M&T Bank Stadium for interested fans.