Holiday Events in Alabama
11-07-2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007, Montgomery, AL- The season of joy rings out in merry measure throughout December in Alabama. Gardens glow with holiday lights, the governor and First Lady throw open the doors of their mansion, historic homes are decked out for the season, and just about every town has a Christmas parade. Following are a few of the many holiday events listed by the Alabama Tourism Department in its annual Calendar of Events. More events are listed on the agency's Web site, www.travel.alabama.
Nov. 2 - Jan. 1, Gulf Shores, "The Ice Rink at The Wharf" - Less than a mile from the beach is the new ice rink at a new development called The Wharf. Skaters must pre-book a skate session by calling 251-224-1000. http://www.thewharfal.com/
Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, Demopolis, "Christmas on the River" - This event features a Christmas parade on the water, a barbecue cook-off, a live nativity scene, musical and theatrical performances, and candlelight tours of antebellum homes. See www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/events/details.cfm?id=6697
Dec. 1-2, Mobile. Several events happen this weekend in this 300-year-old city. -- "Magic Christmas in Lights" is the name Bellingrath Gardens gives to its seasonal decoration in which three million lights are strung through the 65-acre garden. www.bellingrath.org Oakleigh, an antebellum home in downtown Mobile, is decorated for Christmas and illuminated by candlelight, Dec. 1-2. www.historicmobile.org Alabama's Official Tall Ship, the "Joshua," leads a parade of decorated boats down Dog River, Dec. 1. www.grandmarinermarina.com The 1855 Bragg-Mitchell Mansion holds a Christmas celebration Dec. 2. www.braggmitchellmansion.com
Dec. 2, Tuscumbia, "Plantation Christmas" - Built in 1828, Belle Mont is the scenic backdrop for this event that celebrates the season the way it was in years past. Homemade treats, Celtic music, dancers in vintage clothing, and a Virginia Reel in the courtyard just for children are among the planned activities. www.colbertcountytourism.org.
Dec. 3, Tuscaloosa and Dec. 4, Northport -- These two cities across the river from each other kick off the season in style. Tuscaloosa claims to have the state's largest Christmas parade, with more than 200 entries, on Dec. 3; 205-562-3220.Northport holds "Dickens Downtown Celebration" in which the streets, shops and galleries are spruced up a la Victorian era. www.kentuck.org
Dec. 3, 10 & 17, Montgomery, "Governor's Mansion Candlelight Open House - Gov. Bob Riley and First Lady Patsy Riley open the state's 100-year-old mansion for the state's chief executive to the public for holiday tours, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Tours of the 1907 mansion at 1142 S. Perry Street are free but require a ticket, available from the Mansion Gift Shop across the street on Finley Ave.http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/events/details.cfm?id=6467
Dec. 5 - 9, Opelika, "Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour" - An artist created life-sized, "Old World" Santas. Before she knew it, she had created dozens of them. A few local citizens put them of their front porches and the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour was born. Now in its 15th year, the tour takes place in a historic district of Opelika. It starts at 6 p.m., each evening on 8th Street www.aotourism.com.
Dec. 6-9, Huntsville. This city has several events. -- Burritt on the Mountain has a special dinner where costumed guides lead guest by candlelight to their dinner location, Dec. 6-8. www.burrittonthemountain.com The Huntsville Museum of Art closes the Year of Alabama Arts with a Holiday Gallery Tour, Dec. 6. http://www.hsvmuseum.org/Pages/calendar_of_events.html The Huntsville Ballet Company and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra will perform "The Nutcracker" at the Civic Center Dec. 7-9. www.huntsvilleballet.org.
Dec. 7-8, Foley, "Let It Snow!" -- This town ten miles from the beach hauls in real snow (made with the help of a snow-making machine) and creates a winter wonderland in the city park. Children frolic in the snow, something these coastal dwellers don't get a chance to do except during this annual event. The festival includes games, music, storytelling, and food. It's preceded by a holiday parade at 10 a.m, where the parade participants throw candy from the floats. The evening of the 7th is the Christmas tree lighting in the park. www.foleycvb.com/events.cfm
Dec. 8-16, Birmingham. George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" - A stand-out among all the many events occurring in Alabama's largest metropolitan area is the performance by the Alabama Ballet of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker." The company is one of only six in the world licensed to perform this holiday classic to Balanchine's specifications. The ballet is performed Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16 at the Samford Wright Center. The company will travel to Anniston for performances Dec. 2-3 at the Anniston Performing Arts Center. www.alabamaballet.org. For more events, see http://cvb.sweetbirmingham.com/.
Dec. 1-31, Dothan. Contact the Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.visitdothanal.com. "Downtown Christmas Festival" is a block party Dec. 1 during which there will be live music, vendors selling Christmas ornaments, decorations, handmade crafts, and food. For details, email downtown@graceba.net. Landmark Park holds a Christmas Decoration Workshop, Dec. 2, where volunteers who are prepared to craft old-fashioned ornaments and wreaths to deck the halls of the park's historical buildings are invited to enroll in a free natural decoration workshop. The park also hold a Victorian Christmas on Dec. 10. [Back to Press Releases Main]
