By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City School System will look to continue a tradition of community involvement on Sept. 30, as the city will host its annual homecoming parade on the streets surrounding Larry Simmons Stadium.

And riding in the parade’s lead vehicle will be the stadium’s namesake.

Beginning at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30, the parade featuring dozens of floats from the city’s schools, sports teams and other organizations will kick off from Thompson Middle School.

After beginning at TMS, the parade will travel down Warrior Drive in front of Thompson High School, turn right onto Thompson Road and then turn left on Alabama 119 before ending at Larry Simmons Stadium behind Thompson Intermediate School.

The theme of this year’s parade will be “Warrior Legacy,” and each Alabaster school will design a float utilizing the theme. The parade also will feature the THS marching band and visual ensemble, city youth league football players and cheerleaders and more.

The grand marshal for this year’s parade will be legendary THS football coach Larry Simmons, who won a state championship at the school in 1982 and compiled a 98-32-1 record and six playoff appearances during his 11 years at the school.

Following the parade, the night will conclude with a community pep rally at the stadium at 7:15 p.m., featuring messages from THS head football coach Mark Freeman and team captains. The winning school float also will be announced during the pep rally.

The parade and pep rally will come two days before the Warriors take on the Vestavia Hills Rebels in an Oct. 2 homecoming matchup.

This will mark the third consecutive community homecoming celebration for Alabaster since the Alabaster City School System formed in July 2013. The past two celebrations have drawn thousands of spectators along the parade route and at the pep rally to show their support for the Warriors.