With less than a month until Selma’s annual Christmas parade, organizers of the event are reminding Dallas County residents the deadline to register to participate is fast approaching.

The original entry deadline to register without penalty was Wednesday, now, those wanting to participate in the parade have until Wednesday, Nov. 27. This time, the fee is slightly higher.

The parade will start at the base of the Edmund Pettus Bridge at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

“The lineup has yet to be figured out and as of now we have 27 entrants,” Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheryl Smedley said. “We are still looking for our local high schools bands to participate. Any clubs and organizations are welcome to join in, and we are putting a special call-out for our area veterans.”

While most of the day’s events will remain similar to years past, Smedley said this year’s route will be longer than in the past.

“Mayor [George] Evans has extended the route down to J.L. Chestnut Boulevard,” Smedley said. “In the past we would turn on Furniss Avenue, but this year we will turn right on J.L. Chestnut and disband on Washington Street.”

A later start time should also bring out big crowds this year, Smedley said.

“I would ask people what would bring them out and they said pushing the time from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. would make them more likely to come out,” Smedley said.

Her hope is this year’s parade can be just as big of a hit as last year.

“Last year there was the biggest crowd I had ever seen on Broad Street,” Smedley said. “It was three-people-deep and everyone was lined up on Furniss.”