DEMOPOLIS &8212; Getting into the Christmas spirit is coming early this year, or at least getting into the Christmas on the River spirit.

Organizers for this year&8217;s Christmas main event are hosting a COTR Day Parade Workshop hosted by the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce to teach newcomers and seasoned volunteers how to build new floats and repair existing ones. Demonstrations will be given on various techniques for designing, creating, painting and paper mach/.

The workshop is set for 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday at the COTR warehouse, located behind the old police station in Demopolis, which is the on the corner of Walnut and Fulton streets. There is no charge to attend this event and lunch will be provided to all participants. The public is invited to participate in this workshop.

In an effort to revamp the parade to the caliber of floats and entries it was once accustom to, the Chamber is rejuvenating the float competition and setting guidelines on entry requirements.

Smith said the Chamber is forming a float review committee, which will review the float idea as well as approve each float before it rides in the parade.

Ben Sherrod, one of the assisting founders of the day parade&8217;s float competition echoed Smith&8217;s concern for improvements with the floats design and details.

Smith said she too, hopes to see new comers to the area who what to take part in COTR attend the workshop and become involved.

The Chamber requests area businesses send groups of workers so that they may learn techniques to build their own floats for the 2008 parade, which will once again include float competitions. First and second place prizes will be awarded in several categories, including business, private and costume.

Sherrod said the group hopes to make four new floats this year to add to the two floats built last year. He said there are two floats that are permanent items to the parade, the Elf float and the Santa Claus float. Although he said the Santa Claus float is getting a facelift this year.

For more information about the workshop or volunteering for COTR, contact the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce at 334-289-0270.