It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays in the Shoals as local communities get ready to host Christmas arades, breakfasts with Santa, and winter festivals.
However, only the real Santa and Mrs. Claus will be part of local parades – no impersonators allowed.
Town Creek kicks off the cavalcade of parades on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. Call the Town Creek Library at 256-685-2973 for more information. Registration is free.
The Muscle Shoals Christmas Parade will be Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. with Santa welcoming kids to add to his list at Bank Independent starting at 5 p.m. Register at this link by Nov. 23.
Rogersville hosts its “Hometown Christmas” parade on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Contact town clerk Misty Michael at 256-247-5446 extension 2 to reserve your spot in the parade. Groups, churches, school groups, businesses, and individuals are welcome to participate.
Sheffield will be filled with merriment on Tuesday, Dec. 6 as the parade marches through downtown. Visit this link to hold your spot in the parade.
Florence hosts its “March of the Toys” Christmas parade on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. The route travels through historic downtown Florence from Court Street to Tennessee Street and up Seminary Street, ending at Wilson Park. Register to be part of the parade by Dec. 1.
Tuscumbia’s parade, originaly scheduled for Nov. 29 before thunderstorms forced postponement, has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. Lining up in front of Deshler High School, the parade begins at Main Street.
Festivals
From open houses to merry music to a walk back in time, the Shoals offers plenty of events to welcome the holidays.
Load up the family and visit SantaLand in Rogersville. This year Santa and Mrs. Claus have invited special friends, including the Grinch! New displays include the Peanuts Gang, Whoville, Kringle Lane, a singing Polar Bear and the four-story Bumble the Christmas Yeti. Open at 5:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can also have your picture taken with the Clauses.
Northwest-Shoals Community College welcomes everyone to breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9-11 a.m. on its Muscle Shoals campus. Tickets are $14 and can be purchased here. Proceeds go to the NW-SCC Foundation.
Also on Dec. 3, from 1 to 9 p.m., catch the Festival of Yule on Main Street in Tuscumbia. Learn more about the Norse, Germanic, and other mystical cultural lore that surrounds winter holidays. Purchase gifts from local vendors, enjoy a 7-foot Krampus photo op and a 360-degree photo booth. Downtown restaurants will be open, and street food and hot chocolate will also be available.
Once again, Tuscumbia will host its Dickens Christmas in historic downtown on Saturday, Dec. 10. Go back in time to meet Dickens characters, warm your hands at a fire pit, enjoy Clydesdale Carriage Rides, live music, holiday High Tea and much more, all while snow gently falls.
Also on Saturday, Dec. 10 head out to Deibert Park in Florence from 1-3 p.m. for A Deibert Christmas! Everyone is invited to meet Santa outside the Deibert Barn for photos, and storytime. Santa will be reading “A Night Before Christmas” at 1pm and 2pm. This event is sponsored by the Florence Parks and Recreation Department and the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library.
Happy holidays!
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