By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The city of Alabaster will continue a longstanding city tradition on Dec. 7 by holding its annual Christmas parade down U.S. 31.

The parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, according to an Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department announcement on Oct. 14. This year’s parade will follow the same route as last year’s, 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 theme for this year’s parade will be “Wishin’ for a White Christmas,” which was chosen by students at Creek View Elementary and Meadow View Elementary.

Alabaster currently is accepting forms from those interested in participating in the parade. Forms are available online at Cityofalabaster.com/alabaster-christmas-parade-entry-forms-available, and should be completed and mailed to Alabaster Parks and Recreation, ATTN: Christmas Parade, 100 Depot St., Alabaster, Ala., 35007.

Participant forms are due by Nov. 15.

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.