By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The city of Alabaster will continue an annual tradition in early December, as dozens of floats will travel down U.S. 31 to greet thousands of spectators at the city’s Christmas parade.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, beginning at 10 a.m. on U.S. 31 south. As of Oct. 17, the city had not yet announced the parade’s theme or grand marshal.

This year’s parade will follow the same route as previous years, and will begin at the Ernest McCarty Ford dealership on U.S. 31 before turning right onto Second Place Northwest, traveling down First Street Southwest and ending at the stop sign in front of Southbrook Village.

During the parade, which is organized and sponsored by Alabaster city personnel and the Alabaster Beautification Board, the two southbound lanes of U.S. 31 will be closed, and northbound and southbound traffic will be diverted onto the two northbound lanes.

The city will hold the parade rain or shine “unless conditions become unsafe for parade participants and spectators.”

The city will set up a judging station in front of the former City Hall building on U.S. 31, and floats will have a chance to conduct one-minute performances for the judges when they stop in front of the building.

After the parade, the judges will award winners in the following categories: Best Holiday Spirit, Best Use of Theme, Best Walking Entry, Most Creative and Most Entertaining.

No live Santa Claus characters will be allowed in the parade, as the city’s official Santa Claus will be riding on an Alabaster fire truck. No dirt bikes are allowed in the parade, according to information on the city’s website.

The city began accepting registrations for the parade on Oct. 16, and will continue to do so through Nov. 3. Registration is free, but none will be accepted after Nov. 3, according to the city.

To register, visit Al-alabaster.civicplus.com/233/Christmas-Parade-Dec.