Some streets to close Saturday for parade

Several downtown Atlanta streets will be closed Saturday morning for the annual Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade.

The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard and travels south on Peachtree to Five Points, then west on Marietta Street and south on Centennial Olympic Park Drive.

Atlanta police spokesman Otis Redmond said Peachtree Street will be closed from Pine Street to Marietta Street, West Peachtree Street will be shut down from Pine Street to Peachtree Street, Marietta Street will be closed from Peachtree Street to Jones Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive will be shut down from Harris Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Redmond also warned downtown motorists to expect heavy traffic around the Georgia Dome area, as the Southeastern Conference Championship football game begins at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“It is strongly recommended that MARTA be utilized,” Redmond said. “The Atlanta police will strictly enforce all traffic and parking laws by ticketing and impounding illegally parked vehicles.”