Signs of Christmas already in downtown Rome; final parade entry deadline is next week. Regional Christmas guide coming next week.

Downtown Rome’s Christmas Parade is Dec. 1 and the lineup for this year’s edition — themed ‘A Colonial Christmas’ — is now posted on the Rome Christmas Parade website. Late applications will be accepted until Thanksgiving with applicants paying the $50 registration fee as well as a $50 late fee.

The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at Broad and First Avenue near Southeastern Mills and concludes by City Hall/the Greater Rome Chamber with Santa lighting the Christmas tree pictured above. Several awards will be presented to top entries.

The parade’s grand marshal will be named at a breakfast set for Tuesday, sponsored by Heritage First Bank.

Each year, the parade draws more than 20,000 to Broad Street and downtown.

Coming next week: A special, regional guide to the Christmas season from Hometown Headlines and Harbin Clinic.