By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The city of Alabaster is making its final preparations for the annual Christmas parade, which will return to U.S. 31 on Dec. 1 for the first time since 2010.

The Christmas parade will begin at 10 a.m., and will follow the city’s traditional parade route through the heart of Alabaster.

Before the parade, which is sponsored by the Alabaster Beautification Board, more than 75 floats and groups will stage at the businesses along U.S. 31 in the northern end of the city.

The parade will travel south along U.S. 31 until it reaches Alabaster City Hall. From City Hall, the parade will turn onto First Street Southwest, cross the railroad tracks and travel to its terminating point at the intersection of First Street Southwest and Sixth Avenue Southwest.

The northbound side of U.S. 31 will remain open to traffic throughout the parade, and spectators can watch from the west side of U.S. 31.

Last year, the city held the Christmas parade at the Colonial Promenade shopping center, but decided to move the parade back to U.S. 31 after Alabaster officials and the Promenade property manager were unable to reach an agreement to host the parade at the shopping center again this year.

Alabaster City Administrator George Henry said the city considered U.S. 31 and Alabama 119 for the parade after learning the parade would not be at the Promenade, and said the city chose U.S. 31 to allow for more staging room for participants.

Because the parade route could affect businesses along U.S. 31 during the parade, city officials encouraged parade attendees to support the businesses along the highway.

This year’s parade theme will be “Christmas Wonderland on Main Street.” For more information about the parade, or to sign up as a participant, visit Cityofalabaster.com/departments/parks-recreation/special-events/christmas-parade-dec-1-2012.