There’s nothing more magical than the holiday season in a small town. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best destinations for celebrating Christmas in Alabama, plus the inside scoop on each location’s unique festivities and traditions. From ice skating and caroling to light shows and more, get ready for some Hallmark-worthy holiday cheer.
Wetumpka
More Info: wetumpkaal.gov
The “City of Natural Beauty” is even more beautiful during the holidays. On December 6 and 7, the annual Downtown Dickens Christmas marks the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year in Wetumpka! This Victorian holiday celebration in the historic downtown kicks off with a Christmas tree lighting. Step into A Christmas Carol as you take photos with Father Christmas, browse goods from local vendors, and soak in the period costumes and scenes.
The annual Holiday Market is one of the City of Wetumpka Farmers’ Market’s biggest events all year. On December 7, shop for everything from baked goods to seasonal produce and crafts at the Wetumpka Sports Complex. Shop goods from over 70 vendors, and catch a glimpse of Santa Claus and the Grinch!
On December 14, Wetumpka hosts a unique holiday tradition — Christmas on the Coosa. This community event takes place by the Coosa River and is one of the town’s most beloved holiday traditions. This year’s theme is “Jingle Bells and Gingerbread.” Enjoy a festive family meal, a Christmas parade of floats and characters, and lots of sugary treats. At this family-friendly event, you might even catch Santa waterskiing on the Coosa River.
Cullman
More Info: visitcullman.com
Located in the heart of North Alabama, Cullman has been a go-to holiday destination for years. While Cullman hosts a variety of festivities in winter months, it is renowned for its Christkindlmarkt. Harkening back to traditional German Christmas markets, you can find seasonal treats like hot chocolate and authentic GlĂĽhwein mulled wine. Browse handmade goods from local vendors while you soak up this unique holiday atmosphere! The market kicks off in late November and runs until December 23. For more information on dates, check out the Visit Cullman events page.
Christmas at the Grotto is another signature Cullman tradition during the holiday season. The Ave Maria Grotto is Alabama’s only Benedictine monastery. Brother Joseph Zoetl, O.S.B., made “The Grotto,” which is a miniature display of the city of Jerusalem. It is adorned with lights during the Christmas season, and visitors can enjoy musical performances, refreshments, children’s attractions such as horse-drawn wagon rides, and visits with Saint Nick. This year, Christmas at the Grotto will run from November 29 through December 1, December 5 through 7, December 12 through 14, December 19 through 23, and December 26 through 28.
If you love light displays, the annual Winter Wonderland at Sportsman Lake Park is right up your alley! With over a million lights and new displays every year, along with a slew of other attractions, this is a hit for the whole family. Board the Christmas train, ride a horse and carriage, and enjoy a cozy cup of hot cocoa while you drive through the breathtaking light show.
Auburn/Opelika
More Info: aotourism.com
The loveliest village on the plains takes on an air of magic as the temperatures drop! Auburn has a jam-packed schedule of holiday events, so a weekend trip anytime in November or December will have you feeling merry and bright. On December 1, the lighting of the Menorah and the Christmas Tree kicks off each holiday season on the iconic Samford Lawn. Enjoy latkes, cookies, cocoa, choral performances, and special guest speakers.
If all the Christmas cookies have you feeling sluggish, the Jingle Jog and Santa Stroll may be calling your name. Runners and walkers come decked out in Santa hats and Christmas sweaters for a 5k race that starts at Toomer’s Corner on December 7. For more active holiday fun, be sure to stop by Hey Day Holiday. From December 7 through January 4, the Greenspace outside of Hey Day Market morphs into a winter wonderland. Enjoy ice skating, the 24-foot Christmas tree, and the daily “snowfall” at 5 p.m. The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center is home to one of Alabama’s largest Gingerbread Villages. The village is “unveiled” after the Auburn Downtown Christmas parade on December 8 and will be available to the public through New Year’s Day.
Just a few miles from Auburn, Opelika is quickly becoming a go-to holiday hub. The start of the season is commemorated with the Snopelika Parade and Tree Lighting. This year, Opelika boasts the tallest Christmas tree in the South — a must-see at a whopping 72 feet. This community-wide event includes food trucks, snowball fights, carols, and more. This year, the annual Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour is celebrating its 30th year.
From December 13 through 17, historic homes in the Opelika Northside Historic District deck their porches with nostalgic decorations, and residents don traditional Victorian apparel. Stroll through on foot or take in the historic display by car. This top-rated event has been featured in publications like Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living, and visitors travel from all over to experience the event.
On December 13, the City of Opelika presents “Christmas in a Railroad Town.” This night of festivities is perfect for children and includes train and pony rides, a petting zoo, and much more. Stores and restaurants offer later hours, making it a perfect time to help your little ones pick out Christmas gifts for family members. This event also includes wagon rides through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour.
North Alabama Mountain Lakes
More Info: northalabama.org
North Alabama is a particularly beautiful part of the Cotton State, and it is downright breathtaking during the holidays! From Arab and Huntsville to Athens and Decatur, the spirit is alive and well in North Alabama. Beginning Thanksgiving weekend and running through December, Christmas in the Park kicks off in Arab. More than two million lights adorn Arab City Park, transforming it into a snowy paradise.
During Huntsville’s 12 Nights of Santa, from December 12 through 23, children can visit Saint Nick at the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. This festive celebration also includes family-friendly activities like crafts, gingerbread cookie decorating, conducting a science experiment in the “Tinker Lab,” and more. Tickets are $13 for EarlyWorks Museums members and $15 for nonmembers.
In Decatur, the Historic Decatur Christmas Tour of Homes on December 14 is like stepping back in time. Take a self-guided tour of homes, historic buildings, and churches in the Albany and Old Decatur Historic Districts while you enjoy holiday refreshments, music, and shopping.
In Warrior, Wonderland Under Warrior is one of the season’s most unique events. Visitors can journey through a spectacular cave at Rickwood Caverns State Park. You’ll find elf villages, Christmas lights, and magnificent geological formations. If you prefer holiday shopping to hiking, the Athens Sippin’ Cider Festival may be more your speed. Shop charming downtown Athens while you enjoy a piping cup of cider from store merchants. Participants cast their vote for the best cider, and the lucky winner takes home the prized Cider Cup!
Mobile
More Info: mobile.org
Alabama’s oldest city is brimming with holiday traditions, making it an ideal place to celebrate the season. The Annual Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens and Home is not to be missed. From November 29 through January 5, stroll the 65-acre gardens and enjoy the “festive paradise on the Gulf Coast.” Music and seasonal treats abound as you admire the classic and whimsical displays.
Another seasonal staple, Christmas at Africatown Heritage House is a unique cultural celebration honoring survivors of the Clotilda, the last slave ship in the United States. This year’s theme is “A Serenade to the Ancestors,” and live music performances will accompany the event.
Tour the Africatown Heritage House Museum, take photos with Santa, and enjoy refreshments at this special event on December 7. For more historical holiday festivities, check out the Richards-DAR House Museum Elegant Christmas on December 7 and 8. The Antebellum townhouse is festooned in elegant, classical Christmas decor. Visit with Santa, listen to live music, and enjoy front porch cookies and lemonade.
A newer tradition, the Holiday Homes tour is a great way to view historic homes and places of worship along Government Street. On December 14, celebrate Christmas Around the World with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, which pays homage to holiday music traditions around the globe.
Florence
More Info: visitflorenceal.com
Known for its rich music history and arts culture, Florence is a popular spot for Alabama tourists any time of year. Florence is the largest of the Alabama “Quad Cities” or “The Shoals,” and during the holidays, it comes alive with unique festivities. On December 7, gather in Wilson Park for the tree lighting and 5th annual bike parade. Enjoy hot chocolate and beignets as you watch the parade and listen to the band, or participate in the fun by decorating your bike with lights, tinsel, and other holiday bits and bobs.
Storyteller Tim Lowry will perform A Christmas Carol on December 6 at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. This free production is Lowry’s interpretation of the age-old Christmas tale. Lowry’s one-man show is a humorous spin on Dickens’ ghost story, and he has performed the show over 130 times!
Santa at the Barn is another must-see holiday tradition. Saint Nick himself will be at Deibert Park Barn on December 14. This is a great time to snag last-minute holiday photos and get the kids in on the fun. Donut NV will even be there with fresh mini donuts and hot chocolate.
Fairhope
More Info: fairhopeal.gov
Fairhope is one of the state’s most charming destinations, and its holiday celebrations are as delightfully endearing as the town itself. A trip to Fairhope is dreamy any time of year, but its family-friendly holiday festivities are a bonus. On December 6, Fairhope’s Magical Christmas Parade brings the whole community together. Watch in wonder as 60 floats dazzle the audience with lights and nostalgia. Santa Claus will make his Fairhope debut at the end of the parade.
If you miss the big guy in the parade, you’re in luck — he’ll be making two more trips to Fairhope on December 7 and 14 at the Fairhope Museum of History. On Santa Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon, kids can share their wish lists and take photos.
One of Fairhope’s beloved annual events is the New Year’s Eve Family Celebration. Ring in 2025 in Downtown Fairhope at this street party celebration, which runs from 8:30 p.m. on December 31 to 12:30 a.m. on January 1, 2025. Enjoy live music, fireworks, children’s activities, and a midnight ball drop!
Gadsden
More Info: greatergadsden.com
The Greater Gadsden area is a bustle of activity and festivities from January to December! The holiday season is a spectacular time to visit “the City of Champions.” Events like Christmas at the Falls, Lights on the Landing, and Christmas on the Coosa run from late November through the holidays, giving you plenty of time to make a trip.
Walk through millions of sparkling lights at Noccalula Falls Park, or enjoy the holiday displays by train. If you prefer to enjoy a light show from the comfort of your car, drive through the Lights on the Landin at River Rocks Landing. At Christmas on the Coosa, you can skate across the 100-by-60-foot ice rink while enjoying hot cocoa and seasonal treats!
Gadsden is truly a family-friendly destination, and this includes furry family members. At Paws on the Falls, pets are welcome to “wag in the Christmas season” on December 3 and January 2. On December 6, the community will gather for the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting. Before the lighting, guests can enjoy performances by the Gadsden State Community College A Cappella Choir and the Gadsden State Show Band. The famed “Coosa Christmas Boat Parade” will also take place that night!
Speaking of parades, the Carver Christmas Parade and Carver Christmas Market on December 7 are sure to have anyone feeling holly and jolly. From holiday floats to food trucks, local vendors, and live Christmas caroling, you’ll want to mark your calendars for this event. Another local favorite is the Annual Holiday Tour of Homes. The Woman’s Club of Gadsden hosts this tour on the first Sunday of December to benefit The Charlotte Chrisman Cox Memorial Scholarship fund.
Andalusia
More Info: andalusiachamber.com
Andalusia may be a small town, but its holiday spirit is anything but small! This Southeastern Alabama town has made a name for itself as a bucket-list holiday destination. From its infamous Christmas in Candyland celebration to its picturesque downtown to its festive Christmas parades, Andalusia is giving us all the nostalgic holiday feels.
Christmas in Candyland is a holiday celebration that runs on weekends in December. The outdoor event is a huge holiday festival featuring activities like musical acts, visits with Santa, ice skating, South Alabama’s biggest snow tubing hill, train rides, a polar bear maze, and much more. It got its name from the “candy land cottages” built annually.
Children and adults love these adorable playhouses; this year, there are dozens of cottages to look at! This year’s theme is “Timeless Traditions,” so be ready to see Christmas through the ages.
Stroll through historic downtown Andalusia and soak in the beautiful holiday decorations and lights. Grab a slice of cake at the famous Dean’s Cake House, and be sure to check out the annual Christmas Parade on December 5.
Prattville
More Info: exploreprattville.com
Last but certainly not least, Prattville’s family-friendly festivities and community events warrant a weekend trip during the holiday season. On December 5, Prattville has a 100% chance of snow at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting! This free event beckons in the holiday season, and Santa himself has even been known to stop by.
One day later, the annual nighttime Christmas Parade takes place on December 7. This is one of the town’s largest events all year, with floats, dancers, and lots of live holiday music. You’re sure to catch stocking stuffers like candy, beads, and holiday trinkets as you soak in the holiday spirit. Starting December 5 and running until December 23, the Christmas “ice” skating rink returns to Prattville. Admission is just $5 and includes skate rentals.
On December 10, A Main Street Christmas will return to Prattville. Shop local vendors and businesses in downtown Prattville while you admire Christmas lights, watch live performances, and sip hot chocolate. Children will love holiday crafts, horse and carriage rides, caroling, and visits with Santa.
Sing your way into a merry mood at the annual Christmas concert. The Community Chorus and Prattville Pops will perform on December 13 at the Doster Community Center.
Happy holidays!
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