By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Local teens will have a chance to swim, dance, eat and play basketball after several high school football games this fall during the Alabaster YMCA’s Fifth Quarter parties.

Teens in grades ninth-12^th are invited to the parties, which will be after local football games from 9 p.m.-midnight at the Alabaster YMCA off Plaza Circle. During the events, the YMCA will provide drinks and pizza to attendees, will bring in a DJ and will offer free swimming, basketball and dancing to kids in attendance.

This fall will mark the second year the YMCA has offered the program, and YMCA Director Rhonda Elmore said last year’s events were a success.

“This all started last summer when (Alabaster) Mayor (Marty) Handlon and I were talking about ways to give kids more productive activities. We don’t want them just hanging out in the parking lot of the Promenade,” Elmore said.

Elmore said the YMCA took all Alabaster high schools into consideration when planning the Fifth Quarter events.

“This year, we made sure to schedule everything based on Thompson, Kingwood and Evangel,” Elmore said.

The first Fifth Quarter event will be on Aug. 29 after the Pelham-Thompson, Evangel-Tabernacle and Kingwood-Lee Scott games. The YMCA also will hold a Fifth Quarter on Sept. 12 after the Thompson-Mountain Brook, Evangel-Ezekiel and Kingwood-Glenwood games.

Sept. 19 will feature a Fifth Quarter after the Thompson-Hoover, Kingwood-Jackson Academy and Evangel-Central Christian games, and Sept. 26 will feature a Fifth Quarter after the Kingwood-Evangel Christian Academy (Montgomery) and Evangel Ballard Christian games. Thompson has a bye week on Sept. 26.

Fifth Quarters also will be held on Oct. 10 after the THS-Hewitt Trussville, Evangel-Lighthosue and Kingwood-Restoration Academy games. The final Fifth Quarter will be on Oct. 24 after the THS-Oak Mountain, Kingwood-Coosa Valley and Evangel-Freedom Academy games.

Parents must sign a waiver before allowing their children to attend the Fifth Quarter events. Waiver forms are available at the YMCA, THS, Evangel Classical Christian School and at Kingwood.